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Consumer Carpet Buying Guide
The Carpet Professor Reveals Insider Secrets to Choosing New Carpeting Like A Pro. Free Unbiased Carpet Information and Advice for consumers. Discover How to Avoid Common Retail Carpeting Scams and Rip-offs.
The Carpet and Padding You Select must be able to tolerate your own unique level of foot-traffic you have in your home or your new carpet will not last as long as intended. The last thing you want is new carpet that mats down quickly and looks bad.
Choosing the right grade of carpet is the most common problem homeowners face today when buying new carpet.
Do You Have Heavy Foot-Traffic?
If you want to choose the right carpet quality to meet your needs and goals, you first need to determine your level of foot-traffic and second, you must decide exactly how long you want your new carpet to last. Your answers to these two questions will help determine what grade of carpet you need to buy.
To avoid making costly carpet buying mistakes, start by taking my free Carpet Foot-Traffic Test. It is a simple six-question test about your needs, goals and lifestyle.
Free Carpet Buying Checklist
Be
well prepared for having new carpet installed in your home Learn what
you need to do before, during and
after you have Carpet installed in your home.
Print out my Free Carpet Buying Checklist (Click on the image to view or print my free checklist)
Home Depot and Lowe's
Free Carpet Installation
Tempted by those
TV ads offering FREE Carpet Installation? Is Carpet Installation Really Free? Be
careful what you ask for when it comes to free carpet installation.
There are many reasons why they offer free carpet installation. You need to understand why they offer this and what to expect if you agree to buy new carpet from any nationally advertised carpet seller. Big Box Carpet Installation Specials Exposed
Carpet Cost and Prices
If you haven't checked carpet prices in a few years, you'll be shocked when you see the high cost of a good quality carpet and padding. How Much Does New Carpet Cost?
Carpet is more expensive then most homeowners realize. When you finally add up all the costs for materials and labor it can easily give you a severe case of sticker shock. Take my free Carpet Foot-Traffic Test to see where you stand.
Twenty years ago, a medium quality carpet, with pad and installation, used to run about $30 a square yard. Now that same quality is closer to $50. A decent 6-pound Rebond Pad used to cost about $3 a yard. Now it's about $5. Most carpet makers now recommend using 8-pound density padding. Types of Carpet Padding
Carpet Installation Cost has increased too. It was once common to pay $3 to $5 a yard for carpet installation. Now you can expect to pay $5 to $8 or more depending on where you live, the job details and what grade of carpet you select.
Carpet Installation is a major component of your overall carpet purchase and if installed wrong your new carpet may not last nearly as long as intended. If you are shocked by the high price for qualified carpet installation, wait till you find out the cost of hiring a lousy carpet installer! How to Find a Qualified Carpet Installer?
Many
of my recommended carpet stores honor my coupon for up to a hundred bucks off
new carpet. Click on the image to view or print.
Stainmaster® Brand Update
The
Stainmaster
brand, well-known for it's Nylon 6,6 fiber, was recently purchased by Lowe's. However, the same
fiber known as Antron Nylon 6,6
is still available at most local carpet stores under a different brand or in an unbranded form. It's the
exact same fiber,
but it just doesn't have the Stainmaster®
brand name attached to it.
Ask Your Local Carpet Store about Carpet they carry made with the Antron® Nylon 6,6 Fiber. Carpet made from Nylon 6,6 is available at most local carpet stores with all the same benefits for stain resistance and durability.
Pushy Carpet Salespeople
Unscrupulous carpet retailers often hire
pushy salespeople who will say or do just about anything to
convince you to
buy from them. Many of these sales people know very little about carpet or
the products they sell.
They are hired because they are good at closing the sale. That means they won't take NO for an answer. This is another reason why I have created my own list of locally-owned carpet and flooring stores. Don't let pushy salespeople push you around!
Every flooring dealer I recommend must pass my own special set of rules and requirements to be listed in my directory. You deserve to be treated with respect, get a fair and square deal and enjoy first class customer service before, during and after the sale.
Carpet Measuring Experience
An experienced estimator can save you money by strategically making the best use of material waste. They can figure out smart ways to utilize leftover carpet from one room and use it to fill in an area in another room. This saves you money! See my list of Recommended Carpet Dealers to help make sure your home is measured accurately.
Inexperienced Carpet Salespeople
Too many carpet salespeople lack sufficient "hands-on" carpet experience or don't have enough product knowledge to know what grade of carpet is able to meet your needs, goals and lifestyle.
You don't want to rely on their advice or suggestions. You need to do your own research and NOT rely on any one salesperson to make your carpet and padding choices for you!
Unfortunately there are also plenty of unscrupulous carpet salespeople who are hoping to overcharge you by using sneaky sales tactics, deceptive advertising gimmicks, bait & switch tricks and literally dozens of other common retail carpet scams!
How To Measure Carpet Yourself
Many
homeowners are overcharged for Carpet, Padding and Labor! If
you get three carpet estimates from three different carpet dealers, I
guarantee you will get three different estimates for the amount of material
your home requires and the total cost to get the job done. This is
because every estimator measures differently.
"Some salespeople over-measure intentionally while other salespeople over-measure because they are not well-trained at the art of carpet measuring."
Not quite sure if the salesperson's measurements are accurate? It is always wise to get at least three estimates from local carpet stores. Then you can compare prices and measurements side by side and make wise and informed choices. Learn How to Measure for Carpet Yourself!
Carpet Measuring Scams?
Some Salespeople Lack Measuring Experience. It can take several years for anyone to become proficient at measuring your home for carpet. Salespeople who are new to the carpet business may not be very accurate at measuring and that could cost you plenty.
There are several steps you can take to make sure you don't become a victim of a carpet measuring scam or rip-off. Getting three free estimates/bids from local carpet stores is one way to be able to compare products, services, measurements and price side by side. See my Recommended Carpet Dealers
Choosing the Right Grade of Carpet?
It's not like it was
50 years
ago when choices were very limited and most carpets were made to last a
lifetime. Today there are thousands
of different grades, styles and quality levels to choose from.
Some carpets are designed to wear out in less than 5 years, some are designed to take a beating and last for 20 years or more.
Why do some Carpets last longer than others? It
all depends on the materials they use to manufacture the carpet! Most
important is choosing the right carpet fiber
to meet your needs and goals!
Choosing
the Right Carpet Fiber
Nylon is the most durable synthetic fiber available today. Beware of Carpet Retailers or Salespeople who recommend you buy carpet made from Polyester or P.E.T. Polyester and say it is "just as durable" as a carpet made from Nylon.
Carpets made from Polyester tend to mat down very quickly in medium to heavy traffic applications, especially in main walkways, hallways and on stairs. Learn more about Carpet Fibers
Is This Carpet is Durable Enough?
This is a common problem homeowners face when trying to choose the right grade of carpet. It's not easy to tell if the carpet quality is good, better or best, just by looking at it or feeling it with your hand. All carpets look and feel fabulous when they are new!
Print
and use my free Carpet
Durability Guide Chart
it will help you determine the durability of any carpet you are considering.
Everyone wants to enjoy a carpet that is soft and plush! Just because a carpet feels soft does not mean it's durable or able to tolerate YOUR level of foot traffic.
If you want carpet that will last a long long time, you need to select a carpet made from the most durable materials! You need to understand what makes one carpet more durable than another. Learning about Carpet Specifications is the key to your success!
Unnecessary Padding Upgrades?
Don't be easily swayed by any salesperson who says you need to spend more for an upgraded pad or Specialized Carpet Pad. Read more about Choosing the Right Carpet Pad and about Carpet Padding Specifications.
Carpet Padding: Don't Skimp on Pad!
You
don't ever see it, but pad does a very important job. It is the shock-absorber
for your carpet. It helps the carpet reduce the damaging effects of
abrasion.
Your Carpet Quality Must Match Your Padding Quality. It's real easy to select the wrong grade, type, thickness or density of padding. Learn more Types of Carpet Padding
Secrets To Carpet Success
Not only must you hire a qualified carpet installer, 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. That's how to buy new carpet like a pro! See who I recommend near you.
