6 Mistakes You Need to Avoid When Buying a Carpet

Many of us don’t buy carpets that often. As a result, when we shop for them, we might make critical mistakes in the selection process!

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It leads to an expensive cost having to buy a new carpet, and get it reinstalled all over again. Being knowledgeable about how you should go about choosing carpet flooring will help make the process easier. Here are some of the biggest mistakes you need to avoid when buying a carpet.

1. Don’t assume carpets are the same.

Be aware that just because two carpets look and feel the same doesn’t mean they’re identical. You have to dig into the details to know what you’re getting. You should first check if the carpets are made of the same fiber. Then, you should check if the carpets are of the same style or quality. Additionally, look at the manufacturers’ warranties on the carpets. One carpet may have a 20-year warranty while another one may only have a 10-year warranty, which is another indicator of the quality.

2. Don’t ignore the underpad.

If you avoid paying for underpads to save money, you’re risking your carpet potentially not lasting as long. Underpad protects against wear and tear through absorbing the impact of foot traffic. It also makes the carpet more comfortable to walk on. If you have a tight budget to work with, choose to buy a less expensive carpet, so you can still get a good-quality underpad.

3. Avoid being influenced by promotions.

Carpet companies will often do a lot of promotions to persuade people to buy. Be sure to avoid making the mistake of buying solely based on a promotion. While a deal may look good, you could end up not getting as much quality as you desire. As an example, Company X may offer full installation of your carpet for $99, while another Company Y may offer it $0.30 per square footage. If you need 500 square feet of carpet installed, it would seem that you’d save 50$ purchasing from company X. In actuality, they may charge you for the sales used, the inches of seaming tape, and other hidden charges that ultimately increase the overall cost. With any promotion, always ask if there’s anything additional that may add to the price.

4. Don’t have your carpet “unprofessionally” installed.

In some cases, such as a simple square room, you may be able to install the carpet yourself or have a friend that’s handy to it. In most cases, though, you’re better off having a professional install it. Carpet installers have special tools and lots of experience to make sure the job is done right. If the carpet is poorly installed, it will look bad, and it won’t perform the function that it should. It will need to be replaced and cost you more to get a new carpet and professional installation, than it would have if a professional had done it in the first place.

You should also be aware that most warranties require that you get the carpet professionally installed to be valid. When looking for a professional carpet installer, the first thing you should consider is experience. Find how long the installation has been in business, and if they’ve worked on homes similar to yours. As an example, you wouldn’t hire a carpet installer who has only worked with apartments, but not worked with homes that have stairs. A minimum of five years’ experience is ideal. You should also look into the contractor if it has a current license, business liability insurance, worker’s compensation, and a surety bond.

Get a good idea of how much the total cost of floor installation will be. There may be unforeseen repair and floor prep estimates that may be added costs to the square footage estimate. Have the company give a written estimate, giving full detail of what has to be done, what materials need to be used, how long it will take, and why it’s all necessary. Knowing the full details will help you avoid any unexpected costs.

5. Don’t just choose any carpet style.

Your lifestyle needs to be factored when it comes to picking the right carpet style for your home. A person living alone will need a different carpet style than a person with a large family with pets. For a large family, they need a style of carpet that’s stain-resistant and can withstand high amounts of foot traffic. If a family has pets, they should look for a carpet that matches the color of their pet to make any pet hair less visible on the carpet. It’s good if the carpet can hide dirt easily as well. Additionally, be careful not to choose appearance over value. You should always ask about the quality and durability of the carpet. You want a carpet that’s made with durable fibers, so it will last longer.

6. Don’t inaccurately calculate square footage.

It’s helpful to get measurements of the square footage in your rooms before you go shopping for a carpet. Nonetheless, that’s not the only measurements you’re going to need when selecting a carpet. You’ll also need the width of the roll of the carpet and the direction of the carpet pile. Generally, the salesperson at your local carpet store will be able to help you figure out those calculations, and give you an accurate total square footage measurement.

Be sure to be as detailed as possible with the information you give the salesperson, so they can give you proper estimation. Let them know about the closet or railing posts in different rooms you want the carpet installed in. Feel free to look for a carpet installer to visit your home and help you come up with the right measurements to use when selecting your carpet.

It can be an exciting time choosing a new carpet for your home. You can pick one that reflects your style and will last you a long time. Avoiding these mistakes will help you make sure you only have to choose a new carpet for your home once. If you’d like to learn more about carpet flooring, you can find more information at Homespure.