I don’t know. What do you need it for? How many people will be living in the home? Will there be a lot of traffic in the carpeted areas? Walk-off mats? Any tile? Vacuuming? Professional cleaning?
I am sure by now you get the gist of this newsletter. When someone asks what a good carpet is, I need to answer with a question. Actually I need to ask a lot of questions. Purchasing flooring can be a lot of money, so how long do you need it to last? A $13 Sq.Yd. Carpet isn’t going to maintain its appearance for 8 or 10 years no matter what the salesman says or how much the discount may be. Quality always costs. Just not as much as you may think.
Let’s break down the items that make up your carpet purchase.
- How many are in the household? In my home there are only two adults and Zeus the wonder dog. Our needs will be different than a household with children and even more different from the house with children that is the neighborhood snack house.
- Where is the carpet going? If you have hard surfaces in the major walk areas, then you can use a softer carpet that may not be as durable, but will be a better feel in the bedroom when you wake in the morning. If the carpet is in an area that food will be consumed, a P.E.T. yarn or Smartstrand by Mohawk will be a better choice than the “On sale” item from a big box store.
- How long do you need it to last? Are you selling the house? Is it a house in a middle income area or a gated community? Do you want to just keep the floor warm or maybe show off the largest area of your home to prospective buyers? It may be worth the extra 15 or 20% if you get a better price for it.
The rest is next.