How To Choose New Flooring Like A Pro!

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How to Choose the Right Carpet?

Carpet, like everything else we buy today, is not made nearly as durable as it once was. Carpet manufacturers have learned how to cut corners wherever they can to save money. Now they provide a wider range of carpet quality levels to meet the needs and budget of practically every consumer application. The trick is knowing how to choose the right grade of carpet and padding to meet your needs and goals without spending too much.

Where to begin? What features/benefits are most important to you?

Stain Resistant and Easy To Clean / Maintain    Sorona / Smartstrand

Most Durable and Longest Lasting                        Nylon

Softest Feel / Plush                                                    Sorona / Polyester

Vibrant Color                                                               Sorona / Polyester / PET

Lowest Cost                                                                 Polyester / Olefin

Pet Friendly                                                                  Sorona / Polyester / PET

Recycled Content                                                       PET

Resists Matting / Crushing                                       Nylon

The type of fiber you choose sets the stage for everything else. Nylon is more costly but is the best choice if you want your carpet to be durable and long lasting. Sorona (aka Smartstrand) is best known for being soft, easy to clean and most stain resistant. No carpet has all the bells and whistles, there are trade-offs and concessions for getting the features that mean the most to you. This is why choosing new carpet can be frustrating and confusing.

Carpet Durability Guide Chart

(click on the image to view or print)

Check out my free Carpet Durability Guide Chart to get a better idea about how to compare carpet specifications and understand what makes one carpet more durable than another.

I designed this Carpet Durability Chart to help homeowners who are hoping to select the right grade or quality of carpet to meet their needs and goals based on known carpet manufacturing specifications. Learn more about Carpet Specifications

First, locate a carpet you are interested in buying, then obtain all the carpet specifications from your carpet retailer. Then use this chart to help determine the level of durability for that carpet. Don’t forget to take my Carpet Foot-Traffic Test to help determine what grade or quality of carpet you need for your home.

Carpet Stain Resistance

Stainmaster branded carpets are well known for using the Antron Nylon 6,6 Fiber. However it no longer uses the Teflon® infused technology that become controversial. It has switched to a topically applied anti-stain system called The DuraTech® soil resistance formula. This is similar to Scotchgard® and Shaw's R2X® topically applied solutions to help resist stains and for ease of cleaning. Both of these sprayed on chemicals wear off over time and can be reapplied by a Certified Carpet Cleaning Technician.

Sixty years ago, virtually all carpets were made to last a lifetime if cared for properly. Not anymore! Today you must choose a grade of carpet that is specifically designed to meet your needs, goals and lifestyle, or you might end up with a carpet that wears out faster than you expect!

Berven Carpet Rug Mills, Fresno CA 1970

During the 1960's most residential carpets were made of Nylon. There were basically three grades of nylon carpet to choose from... Good, Better and Best!

Some Nylon carpets that were originally installed in the 1960's and 1970's are still in use today! Back then, most residential carpets were made with a thick Nylon strand. It was not very soft, but it was extremely durable. A good steam cleaning would make it look like new again, decade after decade.

The Loading Dock at Berven Rug Mills 1970

Residential Carpet Grades Explained

Here is a basic explanation of the various Carpet Grades and how to choose the right quality level to meet your needs, goals and budget. The fiber you select will determine durability and cost. Your 4 basic Carpet Fiber choices are: 1) Nylon, 2) Polyester 3) Olefin 4) Sorona. Nylon is the most durable but it is also the most expensive synthetic fiber. Learn more about Carpet Fibers

1. Low-End Grades of Carpet

There are at least 6 grade levels of low-end carpets designed for apartments and rental property and is typically called "builder-grade" or "apartment-grade" carpet. These low-cost carpets are only designed to last 3 to 5 years at best. The face- weights are generally 22 ounces to 28 ounces. Prices range from $10 - $20 per square yard for the carpet only.

The cheapest way to go is to buy from a locally-owned carpet store who carries rolls of carpet in-stock. Colors and styles are limited to stock on hand and there is no manufacturer's warranty available. How To Choose Carpet Remnants Wisely

Bring a truck, some rope and a tarp if it might rain. Be prepared to to hire an independent carpet installer to do the install. Before you hire, here are 10 Questions To Ask Every Carpet Installer. It's more difficult to obtain manufacturing specifications on in-stock rolls of carpet. Carpet Specifications Explained

(If you are a landlord with apartments or a rental property owner or manager, visit my Landlord Flooring Website which is designed to help rental property owners save on carpet, padding and vinyl flooring replacements and repair costs.)

2. Medium Grades of Carpet

There are at least 12 medium-grades of carpet configurations for those who want to have carpet last for 6 to 12 years. Your foot traffic plays a huge role in how long your carpet will look like new.

Face-weights range from 30 to 45 ounces. Prices range $20 to $40 per yard for the carpet only. The fiber, pile height, tuft twist and pile density are the main four factors that determine how long the carpet will last and prices increase according to durability and degree of softness.

Fiber Denier - Strand Diameter

Everyone wants a soft carpet but that softness often comes at a price. Creating the feel of softness means making the fiber strand thinner. I believe doing that compromises the durability and resiliency of the fiber strand.

Softer carpets are more easily damaged by abrasion and are more prone to matting and crushing of the pile. Choosing a carpet with a standard denier will yield increased durability and resiliency which in turn will make your carpet last longer. What is Fiber Denier?

3. High-End Carpet Grades

There are at least 6 high-end grades of carpet quality for those who want their carpet to last 12 to 20+ years and are willing to pay dearly for it. Face-weights range from 45 to 80 ounces. Prices range from $40 to $85 per square yard and up for the carpet only. Wool Carpets are most costly, usually well over $100 per square yard.

Higher Grades of Carpet Provide...

The Best Quality Fibers - Antron Nylon 6.6 or Anso Nylon 6.0. These fibers are both made very well, easy to clean, more resilient, resist fading, great color choices, most durable, many styles to choose from. Most carpet experts believe Antron's Nylon 6,6 fiber is superior.

A Better Backing System. The backing will have a tighter weave and heavier construction, better materials and is more durable. This also helps prevent wrinkling and delaminating.

The Pile Density will be higher, often more than 3000. Higher density carpets can tolerate higher traffic applications and and increased ease of cleaning.

The Tuft-Twist Rating will be higher (in the 5 to 9 range). Higher tuft-twists make carpets retain their like-new appearance longer. Frieze styles have a very high tuft twist rating, usually above 7.

Overall Cost Will Be Higher

Expect to pay $45 to $85+ per square yard for carpet only. Pad and installation is always extra. You may encounter increased prices for an upgraded padding. Installation cost is higher because higher quality carpets are heavier, more difficult to handle, cut and install. Learn more: Carpet Installation Costs

I've mentioned 12 grades of carpet to make it simple. But in reality, there are dozens of grades of carpet to choose from, all with varying prices and warranties. It's common to pay more for popular well-known brands like Stainmaster or Karastan. A higher price does not always mean the product is more durable. In fact, soft nylon carpet styles always demand a higher price but softer usually means less durable. You will pay more and get a less durable carpet, but you will certainly enjoy the softer feel.

Carpet Durability

Carpet Specification Facts to Consider:

1. Carpets with a pile-height over 3/4" are more prone to matting and crushing of the pile.

2. Carpets with a higher Pile-Density Rating are more durable.

3. Face-weights over 60 ounces are more costly but not always more durable.

4. Print my free Carpet Durability Chart

Carpet Fiber Identification Chart

Here is a handy chart of common branded carpet styles and what carpet fiber they are made from. This information can help you determine the durability of a carpet and its suitability for a particular application. This chart also shows what type of anti-stain treatment has been applied.

Carpet Fiber and Stain Treatment Chart

(Click on image to view or print)

Combine using this chart with my Carpet Durability Guide Chart to discover more information you need to make wise and informed choices.

Choosing the wrong grade of carpet is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make. Why? Because the carpet you buy MUST meet or exceed your needs and goals or you will not get the long-term results that you desire.

Why spend thousands on new carpet that won't last as long as you anticipate?

1. How long do you want your new carpet to last?

2. What is your level of foot-traffic in your home?

These are the 2 key questions that you need to consider and answer carefully. Then you can discover the answer this question: What Grade of Carpet Should I Buy?

Secrets To Carpet Success

Not only must you obtain qualified carpet installation, you must also choose the right grade of carpet and padding too. Just as important is making sure you buy from an honest and reputable carpet and flooring dealer. These are the secrets to buying new carpet like a pro! See who I recommend near you.

Learn More:

~ My List of Carpet & Flooring Stores ~

"I Only Recommend Locally-Owned Stores with Superior Service, Quality Products and Qualified Installers"

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Email Alan: Abccarpetpro@gmail.com

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