Question

I am having trouble choosing from ALL the different suggestion for carpet for my 600sq. Ft. basement. It is a dry basement except for one drain on the floor near the washer that spills out a little, this area is not going to be carpeted though. We have no kids and only 2 cats that rarely go down there. I had actually found a great Berber carpet through a manufacturer on Ebay for $7 sq./yd, but after reading these questions was scared away from both Ebay and Berber. This is an entertaining basement with a built-in bar, pool table and entertainment area. Can you simplify my search to 1 or 2 specific budget friendly recommendations? Is it crazy to try and install it ourselves?

Response:

Yes, it would not be wise to try to install carpet yourself if you want it to look nice and last as long as possible. If your basement is dry you can select any style you wish, I would suggest you consider a level loop commercial style as they are inexpensive, can be installed with or without padding, easy to clean and last a long time. If you want something more plush and want to save money then consider go with an apartment grade, nylon plush style. You could go this route and only spend about $12-15 per yard total - carpet, pad and installation.

I just bought a brand new house and I am doing quite a few upgrades. I was wondering should I upgrade my carpet to berber? Which is about another $3000. Is it worth it or should I just go with what the contractor going to install? Is berber carpet last longer than any other carpet? The only carpet area I have is upstairs, in mostly the bedrooms and stair. There will only be 2 people living there and we tend not to make a lot of mess, but I do have quite a few guest over throughout the year. In addition, I have a dog (lab) but I am going to try not to let her go upstair. I appreciate for any suggestion you can recommend.

Response:

Forget Berber, you have a dog and it will snag the carpet. If you want to upgrade go with a carpet that will tolerate dogs and the occasional heavy foot traffic you have. A frieze style would be a good choice as would any nylon plush style carpet. You really need to read my book before you make your selection and follow my advice to keep from being scammed or overcharged. Selecting the right carpet, padding and getting proper installation is more difficult than most people think.

Question

I just purchased a Berber by Mohawk a tight loop. I am installing this on a concrete floor and the salesman said that a 40 oz felt pad would be good (I don't know how this translates into the weights you gave for cubic feet) .He mentioned it was a 1/2 inch but shouldn't be a problem. (I had read your site about 3/8 max for Berber) He said that the density of felt versus the thickness of rebond would not damage the carpet Do you agree? It is not being installed for another 2 weeks so I have time to change my mind. BTW the salesman was very nice no pressure at all it was my idea to go for a "softer "feel Awaiting your reply.

Response:

Felt pad is fine, but has no sponginess at all. A 1/4 to 3/8 inch, 8 pound, rebond would be cheaper and provide a little "give" underfoot. Either pad would be acceptable but dollar for dollar rebond padding is what I would choose. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's padding requirements to ensure your warranty won't be compromised.

Question

I am thinking about buying our carpet thru one of the many carpet mills located in Georgia at wholesale prices.

What is you personal opinion on this. Is this a smart thing to do?

Response:

I never suggest buying carpet online or through an 800 number. There are just too many ways to get ripped off. If you live close to Georgia and want to make the trip to buy then do. Just be sure you know exactly how much you need, and exactly what it is you want to buy before going. Also, lining up a qualified installer can be difficult.

I'm so happy to find your website -- I need good advice! I'm in the process of buying a condo and just recently learned that the condo association requires that you keep wall-to-wall carpeting in the units. I had planned on refinishing the parquet floors underneath, but will now have to replace the carpet instead. I have two cats, and I know from experience that they tend to scratch carpets and occasionally have accidents on them. So, I'm trying to search for the most stain resistant and scratch resistant carpet I can find. The frieze style seems like a good bet because I've heard that cats prefer to scratch on plush carpets more. It also seems like a frieze, since it doesn't have loops, would be less likely to show the effects of scratching. Do you agree? What styles or brands would you recommend?

Response:

A plush or frieze would be fine in your situation. Looped styles are magnets for cats to scratch on, and should be avoided. More importantly is that you get a fair deal on your carpet, use the right padding and have it installed properly. All these issues and how you care for your carpet will determine how long your carpet lasts. These questions and much more are all answered in my book.

I am building a new house and desire a 5/8-inch carpet pad. I know the drawbacks i.e. lady could put a high heel through, lack of warranty etc; however I really want this pad in a particular room. Where can I purchase this pad?

Response:

You will need to buy this thicker pad either from a local (or perhaps the nearest big city) pad distributor or a carpet supplies/sundries outlet. You could also ask a local carpet layer for advice in this matter too.

My question is, recently I had Berber carpet installed and it is a lighter color. I'm noticing in one area there is a definite seam line, visible in some spots and then again not visible in other spots. Of course right in the middle of the living room it is noticeable and not closer to the wall. I tried cleaning it but that doesn't help. My friend said it is the carpet seam tape and to leave it alone or I'll loosen the seam. Is there any way to clean or get rid of this without damaging the carpet? It seems to be getting more noticeable as time goes by. The people who installed it also tried to get rid of it, but to no avail. What might be the secret?

Response:

From what you have described in your e-mail, this sounds like a carpet color-shading problem. If you really want to have it fixed, you should make it clear to the carpet store owner/manager that you expect them to fix the problem, even if that means that they have to replace all the carpet in the affected areas.

Carpet shading problems are caused when the color dyes are unevenly applied to the carpet fibers and thus cause a color variance either from one side to the opposite side or from the front of the roll to the end of the roll of the carpet. When this happens, carpet seams may be very noticeable. On each side of a seam, you may see two different shades, one lighter one darker. This color shading effect could also be caused if the installer turned the carpet the wrong way. Carpet has a definite direction and flow and this must be maintained throughout the installation process. If this is the case it is the installer's responsibility to fix it.

Assuming that it was installed correctly, carpet-shading problems are not uncommon and it is not a problem that you should be forced to accept and live with, unless you want to. The store may be willing to offer you a settlement in lieu of replacement if the carpet was purchased from their "in-stock" carpet. Otherwise, if you ordered from a sample and the carpet was shipped directly from the carpet mill, then the carpet must be inspected by the carpet mill representative and then ultimately replaced by the manufacturer without any additional charge to you whatsoever. This process can take weeks to resolve so be patient. Stand your ground until you are completely satisfied. Let me know how this all turns out!

Question

Should you use the same type and color of carpet throughout the whole house? For e.g. bedrooms, halls, etc?

Response:

Same color throughout is good if you plan to sell your home soon, otherwise, do what makes you happy!

Question 

I found your website very informative. We are looking to install frieze carpet. We have one small dog and an 18-month old daughter. We are confused by all of the different weights of carpet and pad. What weights would you recommend?

Your question is very important and also a huge one. I basically suggest a carpet density of at least 3000 and a pad density of 6 to 8 pounds. But it all depends on what carpet you select. You must select the right carpet for your needs and lifestyle if you want it to last. But these factors are only a small part regarding the proper carpet and pad selection. I suggest you visit my website again or amazon.com and order my book. It will provide you with everything you need to know and ensure you get a fair deal, make informed choices and avoid the carpet scoundrels.

Question 

I’m planning to hire an installer with over 10 years experience, a power-stretcher, licensed, bonded, and insured of course and am afraid to ask him whether he'd get a better job done if we were to pull up the present tack-less strips and put down new ones. I'm afraid he'll say the old ones are fine because it's a bother to install new ones - and I wouldn't know.

I plan to take up the old carpet and padding (yes, I've been told getting the staples out of the padding is an eon-long, backbreaking chore) myself so that I can afford frieze that I'd like. is it possible that the tack-less strips in a home that is 12 years old and lived in for only 5 - by a couple - are likely fine to reuse?

Response:

Forget removing all those staples, you don't need to! Just be sure to remove all those small bits of pad stuck around and under the staples. Wear an old pair of tennis shoes and use your foot to kick, rub and scrape the pad bits loose. You will never feel or notice those old staples when the new carpet is in.

As far as the tack-less, unless they have been exposed to moisture and the nails are rusty they will be just fine to reuse. Even if you find some tack-less strips that are damaged, only those that are bad can be replaced as needed. Any installer that would say it is a bother to replace bad tack-less is not worth using, so don't be afraid to make your concerns known.

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