Fifty
years ago all carpets were made to last a lifetime if cared for
properly.
Not
any more!
Today
you MUST buy a carpet that is designed to meet or exceed your needs, goals
and lifestyle or else you will end up with a carpet that wears out way
faster than you might expect!
During
the 1960's, there were basically three grades of carpet to
choose from. Good, better and best. The lowest grade carpet was
designed to last 10-20 years or more before it would show any signs of wearing out.
Medium and high grades could easily last a lifetime. Many of these 60
year old carpets are still in use today in homes all across America, and
still look good!.
We still
see
nylon carpets in homes that were originally installed in the 1960's and 1970's.
They were made of a heavy gauge NYLON and they survived because they wear like iron. All homeowners had to
do was give them a good cleaning every few years and their carpet would look like
new again,
year after year.
Today, like
everything else, carpets are not made nearly as durable as they once were. Today
carpet makers cut corners wherever they can to save money and offer a different grade
of carpet for every situation.
Carpet manufacturers today make at least 12 basic grades of carpet to choose
from. The trick for homeowners is knowing which grade of carpet to buy that
can meet their expectations and still be affordable.
Here is a basic explanation of carpet grades and how
they might fit into your needs and budget...
Carpet Grades
Explained:
There are at
least 3 grades of low-end carpets designed for apartments, rental
property and is typically called "builders 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 30 ounces. Prices range from
$8 per square yard to $15 per square yard for the carpet only. If you
are a landlord with apartments or rental property, visit my Landlord
Floors Website designed to help you save money on carpet and flooring
replacement costs.
There are at
least 6 medium carpet grades for those who want a carpet to last
for 6 to 15 years. Face-weights range from 30 ounces to 40 ounces.
Prices range $18 to $30 per yard for the carpet only. The pile height,
tuft twist and pile density are three factors that determine how long
the carpet will last and prices increase accordingly. What
makes one carpet better than another?
There are at
least 3 high-end grades for those who want their carpet to last
15-20
years or more and are willing to pay dearly for it.
With
high- end carpet grades you can expect:
-
The best quality fiber, usually
Stainmaster nylon 6.6 or wool.
These are made very well, easier to clean, more
resilient, resist fading, better color choices, more durable, more
styles to choose from, etc.
-
You always
get a much better backing system. The backing will have a much tighter
weave, is much heavier construction, better materials and is much 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 6 to 9 range). Higher tuft-twists make
carpets retain their like-new appearance longer.
-
Costs will
be $45 to $85 per square yard for carpet only. Pad and install is extra.
Expect to pay more for installation as these high quality carpets are
usually heavier and more difficult to install.
I've just
mentioned 12 different grades of carpet to make it easy to understand. But
in reality, there are dozens of varying grades of carpet to choose from, all
at varying prices and warranty levels.
Higher price does not always mean it is a better carpet. Thicker or higher
face-weight carpets are
not always worth more or more durable. The type of fiber you choose is very critical. Nylon
is always a better choice than Polyester if you want your carpet to last a
long time and not mat down quickly.
Choosing the
wrong grade of carpet is the biggest mistake you can make. Why? Because the carpet you
buy MUST meet your needs and goals or you will not get the results that you
desire. Why spend thousands on a carpet that won't last as long as you hope? How
Much Does Carpet Cost?
You
Need To Read This:
Need
to buy a good carpet? Why spend
thousands on a cheaply-made, low-quality carpet that will wear out and mat
down before you know it? On the other side of the
coin, why spend hundreds or thousands more than you need to, if your
going to move in a couple of years?
Let's
be sensible...
If you want
your carpet to last for just
5 years, you shouldn't spend more any than is necessary to achieve that goal. The
trick is knowing how to determine which grade of carpet can do the best job for you at the
lowest possible cost.
Don't
put complete or blind trust in any carpet salesperson.
Few carpet salespeople are going to
be willing to help you achieve your goals. Why? Because most commissioned
carpet salespeople are not willing take the time to ask you the important
questions that are necessary to help you choose new carpet wisely. They will
likely applaud any carpet choice you make, and tell you that it is a good
choice whether it is a good
choice for your needs and goals or not.
Homeowners
need to learn how to choose the right carpet and avoid bad advice from sly
carpet salespeople. I have already helped over a million homeowners since
1998.
Start
by taking
my free Carpet
Foot Traffic Test to see what grade of carpet will best meet your needs
and goals. Then allow me to help you choose the Right Grade of Carpet
for the Best possible Price from a trusted locally-owned carpet
dealer that I recommend near you!
Continued...
Alan's
Preferred Carpet Dealers
Alan's Complete
Carpet Buying Guide - eBook