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Carpet Questions & Answers #4

 

 

Q. Is there a big difference between 6-lb Pad vs. 8-lb Pad?

I am getting a home built and I chose the 8-pound padding, but will I be able to tell the difference when walking on it or is 6-pound thick enough for a new home?  

 

Answer:

Selecting the right padding is not a simple task and must be done right or you could accidentally void your carpet warranty. There are many factors to consider and you should not trust the carpet salesperson or retailer to select the right padding for you. 

 

The typical padding rating system defines the DENSITY of carpet padding in pounds, not the thickness. An 8-pound padding is less spongy and is stiffer to walk on than a 6-pound pad, which is a bit more spongier underfoot. 

 

6-pound padding is usually dense enough for use with most residential carpet and falls within most carpet manufacturers' warranty guidelines. 

 

More homeowners prefer the 6-pound pad overall because they like their carpet to feel softer and cushy underfoot. There's not much difference in price between 6-pound pad and 8 pound pad. 

 

In your case, it could save you some money to use the 6-pound pad since you are dealing with a builder. They typically force you to buy flooring through their high-priced sources and they get a handsome kickback for every upgrade you choose. 

 

Builder-grade carpets are usually fall on the lowest end of quality so going with the cheapest pad is what I would do. You can buy a better carpet and pad after a few years and get something that you really like. Learn more about Carpet Styles

 

 

Berber Carpet Questions?

Hello, I need some information regarding what questions I should ask the seller of a house I am looking at buying. All the carpet is Berber. What should I ask them about it?

 

Answer:

Having Berber carpet can be a big disadvantage for the seller and an advantage for the buyer. 

 

Let me explain:

 

It's what you need to know about Berber that is important. If you buy this house you have two options. Either keep the Berber or replace the Berber.

 

Why would you want to replace a looped Berber you ask? If you have kids or pets you might want to replace it, or at least tell the sellers that you will have to have it replaced soon. 

 

Why? Looped Berber carpets snag easily. Kids and pets will snag the carpet and can ruin it in a hurry. It doesn't matter what brand it is, or what style it is, they all snag. 

 

If you have kids or pets, you will end up wanting to replace the Berber before too long. Perhaps this is a good negotiating point.

On the other hand, if you don't have kids or pets, and never plan to, then you might like having a Berber carpet. Here are some facts about Berber that no one else will tell you.

 

Most Berbers are made of olefin; some are made of Nylon (better). Some have large loops some have smaller loops (better). Some have no pattern and some have a repeating pattern (better). 

 

So ideally, to determine the quality level of this Berber, a good grade of Berber will be made mostly of nylon, have smaller loops and a repeating pattern. 

 

That means if this Berber has large loops (they tend to fall over, mat down and look bad), made of olefin (a strong fiber but not very resilient), and no noticeable pattern, then it is probably a relatively inexpensive carpet.

If the wrong padding was used, the carpet may stretch out prematurely and need to be re-stretched at some point. It is expensive to have Berber carpet re-stretched. 
Learn about Carpet Comparison

 

Best Carpet and Pad for Family?

I am a new homebuyer. I would like carpet throughout a majority of my home (including the stairs). My family (which includes a 2.5 year old and a newborn) walks around barefoot all day everyday. 

 

So we would like our carpet to be as soft as possible, but also very stain-resistant as well. Can you please help me figure out the best carpet and carpet pad for my situation? 

 

I would like the carpet to last 10-15 years and I am willing to spend up to $30/yd. please help!

 

Answer:

You really do need help because you are asking a lot and have a limited budget. As far as selecting the right carpet, there are a few good carpet choices that are within your price range. 

 

You must buy a durable carpet if you want it to last and you must follow my care and maintenance advice to the letter. That's only the first step in a five part plan to be sure you get the whole job done right. 

 

There is carpet selection, correct padding, professional installation and finally a good price. Learn more: 5 Keys to Carpet Buying Success

 

 

Heavy Traffic Patterns?

 

Q. I’m so glad I ran across your website! We're getting ready to invest in carpeting our entire house (about 2,000 sq. feet). My brother's builder (consistent high end Parade home winner) referred us to his supplier and buyer. 

 

He gave us a quote for carpet, pad, and installation for Mohawk's Horizon carpet. It's kind of like the frieze' (I call it a twist-short shag). I love it, but I do have kids and we show Dobermans. 

 

I don't have a housebreaking problem with the dogs and they are kept in our indoor kennel room 60% of the time, so they don't create excessive wear.

My problem is that we have heavy traffic patterns. Our house is a typical ranch home that's about 20 years old (original carpet). You almost walk the same exact pattern every where you go. 

 

Is this a good traffic carpet? I can't seem to find a durability rating for it anywhere. Trying to find it at Home Depot or Lowe's for a comparison is very difficult as they all have different names and colors.

 

 

Answer:

The frieze you mentioned would be alright for you if it were made of nylon. I suspect the carpet you have selected is made with polyester. 

 

Inherently, a good quality frieze will tolerate a lot of abuse, but only when it is made from Nylon. A polyester (P.E.T.) carpet will mat down in a hurry, especially in heavy traffic pattern areas.

 

 

Berber Carpet for Day Care?

 

Q. I run a Day Care in my lower level. So the carpet gets a lot of traffic. Was thinking of a Berber but was told it would snag if the children would run toys across it. 

 

What would you suggest? We also use it for our own family so would like something that looks nice (not commercial).

Answer:

Looped Berber for you is a no-no! I know you say you don't want commercial carpet but your options are quite limited if you expect your carpet to last. 

 

I suggest you consider a shorter nap, cut pile, commercial grade carpet installed over hair pad. 

 

This type of carpet really looks nice! It will clean easily, last forever, tolerate a lot of abuse and it is reasonable priced. For the best price, stick with a basic style with no pattern. Learn more about How to Choose Berber Carpet Wisely

 

 

Dry Basement Carpet and Pad Choice?

 

Q. We just finished off our large basement and ready for the carpet. The basement is very dry and has never had any water. 

 

It will be heavily used for bedroom, game room, family room, home theater, pool room, and a weight room. I know from researching that nylon is the best way to go but not sure if I should go with textured plush or a commercial grade of carpet. 

 

I don't really want to use any glued down carpet and definitely not Berber. To have less seams we have to look at 15 ft goods. Also need to know what would be the best pad and weight of carpet to use.

 

Answer:

The padding requirements for textured plush are different from for a commercial carpet. 

 

I have a commercial carpet in my office/family room and it is great. I know I will get my monies worth from it, as it will last for 15 to 20 years. 

 

Textured plush that will last this long would cost about twice as much. You decide how long you want it to last and use that as your guide. Take my free Carpet Foot-Traffic Test

 

Berber Carpet or Not?

 

I love Berber carpet but I have kids pets and a lot of foot traffic, what should I do?

 

Answer:

I'm afraid that your love of Berber will soon into a disheartened relationship. Not only do I see the damage caused by children and pets on a frequent basis, I also get plenty of e-mails from folks with kids or pets who purchased a Berber carpet only to discover un-repairable snags and runs showing up all over the place. 

 

If you were older and all your kids were grown I would say great choice! But you are just going into the family zone where everything you hold dear will soon be ruined, stained, snagged, broken, lost, mistreated or mutilated. 

 

I know because I've raised 6 children. If you decide to buy Berber anyway, there is a right way and a wrong way to put Berber on stairs. A good installer will know how to deal with the "smile" you mentioned. 

 

 

Learn more:

 

More Q & A...

 

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