One of the best ways to make sure your carpet lasts as long as possible is to start with the right material--buy good carpet, and buy good padding with the carpet. Budgets, of course, make a difference, but buying the best carpet and padding you can afford can save money over time.
What Constitutes "Good" Carpet?
First of all, when it comes to carpet materials, experts recommend wool first--but if your budget doesn't allow for wool, nylon is second best. As AmeriClean's co-founder Russ Ellis explains, polyester and polypropylene wear relatively quickly and can scuff easily. The Carpet Gallery's Jeff Taylor agrees, suggesting that continuous filament nylon resists shedding and pilling and wears better in high traffic areas than other fabrics do. In addition, the tighter, more dense the carpet's nap is, the more durable it is.
Don't Skimp on Padding. How Much Padding is Sufficient?
Both Russ and Jeff agree that making sure you have sufficient carpet padding is one of the most important things to remember when buying new carpet. Jeff suggests at least 7/16" of six pound density padding; Russ adds that if your budget is limited, the quality of padding you choose is still of utmost importance--it's even worth it to get a slightly cheaper grade of carpet in order to afford high-quality padding. Don't forget to add rubber cushion for stairs, which get the most wear of any carpeted areas.
Maintain Your Carpets
Over time, regular cleaning and Scotchgard™ protection can help any carpet look as good as it can for as long as it can. "We refer all of our cleaning calls and customers to AmeriClean," says Jeff.
For more information about buying carpet, call the Carpet Gallery at 301-739-3422.
