Carpet Reviews and Buying Guide:

How popular is carpet these days? The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) says more than 6 out of 10 American homeowners prefer carpet to other flooring types in their homes. Although many of those same people say hardwood floors and tile floors may be more beautiful, carpeting has more benefits. Carpet is quiet to walk on, comfortable to sit on, warm even in colder winter months, installs fast, is very affordable, and the styles and color combinations range in the thousands giving you lots of variety to choose from. When you are deciding on the carpet you will buy consider where it will go - heavy traffic zones, kids rooms, does it need to be pet friendly for indoor or outdoor use, etc. Will you go with nylon, synthetic, wool, acrylic, polyester or olefin fibers and what color(s) goes best with your current furniture, decor, and wall colors. Many people take home swatches, or fabric samples, so they can compare the carpet types and styles right in their house. Since matching colors is not always easy, we suggest having a salesperson visit your home with a complete catalog of samples so you can quickly determine what matches and what doesn't.

---

There are many manufacturers of carpet like Mohawk, Shaw, Karastan, Milliken, and Dalton. Some people shy away from carpet thinking about the old "shag" carpets our parents had. Todays carpets are not only softer and more elegant, but they have built-in stain resistance that also block odors and spills. Berber carpets are what many homeowners wish they could get. Berber carpets come in mult-level loop, cut pile construction, and level loop styles. The carpets that last longest are those with a tighter yarn twist, shorter pile height, a good carpet cushion, and more stitches per inch. Measure your rooms that you want carpeted so that you have the exact square yardage and can get price quotes from multiple carpet contractors. Many will come and do the measurements themselves and see the actual layout of the rooms to determine how the carpet will need to be cut. Ask about removal of old carpets or flooring and if they provide that service or if you will have to do it. Nylon carpets wear the best so high traffic zones like front entryways or stairs are best for this type of carpet. The olefin fibers are best at resisting stains, so if you have pets or lots kids, prepare for the worst and get olefin material carpet and make sure you get it treated with Scotchgard or Stainmaster. One word of caution with carpets, they are much more suspectible to causing allergies in those allergic to dust and dust mites. I had to recently remove 2/3's of the carpet in my house because my daughter has allergies to those allergens. Don't buy carpet if allergies, especially to dust, run in your family. Go with hardwood floors or tile floors for a healthier lifestyle and less visits to the doctor.

Best Type of Carpet:

Mohawk Carpets with SmartStrand or Shaw Carpets with SoftBac Platinum are the 2 of the top carpets you can buy. The new Shaw Softbac Platinum carpets offer a 10-year no wrinkle guarantee, stronger seams with less peaking, more flexibility in cooler climates, renowned softness, and the best backing adhesive durability and strength. You can find out more details at Shawfloors.com. As for the SmartStrand from Mohawk Carpets, this new fiber is made with DuPont Sorona polymer and the advantages are over comparable carpets are many. They are very long lasting and durable, the stain protection does not wear off or wash out, and maintenance is easy. Mohawk carpets are notorious for superior carpet cushions which can extend the life of your carpets by acting like a shock absorber. This allows your carpet to spring back up more easily after someone has just walked on it. If we had to choose just 1, go with Mohawk for exceptional value, comfort, style, and durability. They've been in the carpet business since 1857 and always deliver "high-quality floor-coverings".

Carpet Installation:

For those of you who want to install carpet yourself (DIY), make sure you have a professional on the job to help set up the layout prepare the flooring. Carpet installation is not that difficult if you have just a little experience, but most manufacturers recommend that you go with a certified carpet layer to do the job right. There are some things you can do to prepare for the of the installation like tearing out or removing the old flooring and moving furniture to another room temporarily. Most carpet installers will charge you if they have to do any of those procedures themselves. Since carpet installation goes pretty fast, you can expect that several rooms can be done in a single day depending on the overall square footage of your house or rooms. It's also best to vacuum the old carpet before they (or you) tear it out to keep the dust and dirt to a minimum and if you get the chance, vacuum the subfloor once the old flooring is removed to help the dust levels as well. You may notice "shredding" or "sprouting" for a few months after the initial installation process but this is normal and something to expect.

Carpet Price:

Carpet contractors will generally give you a price based on the square yard of the job. Carpet price is therefore sold by square yard although many websites we found list carpet in terms of price per square foot. In our research online we found carpets that ranged from $1.50 to $12.50 per sq foot depending on several factors like thickness, density of fibers, materials, and stain resistance (Scotchgard, Stainmaster, etc.). If you are carpeting a rental property, go with the cheaper carpets because you will probably be removing them after a years anyway. When carpeting your home or a vacation home go with the higher end carpets from Mohawk or Shaw to ensure longevity, durability, and a style that makes the house resellable even down the road.

Carpet Care/Cleaning:

The first thing to get on any new carpet is Scotchgard Protector or Stainmaster. Even with a stain resistant protectent on the carpet surface, it does not guarantee that it's stain proof. Olefin is considered the most stain resistant type of carpet but it does not wear as well as say nylon or polyester. When something does spill on your carpet, clean it up as quickly as possible because the longer it stays, the harder it will be to get out. Rugdoctor.com offers 2 products called Spot Remover and Pet Stain Remover that get reviews from consumers. They have a chart on the site that goes over common stains and how to get them.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

Review and Internet Guide Index: Computers and Internet: - Amazon Kindle Review - Best Selling Wireless Routers Household/DIY: - Replacing a Furnace - Most Popular Bread Makers Cars and Automobiles

Audio/Video Electronics - Best 50" LCD TVs - What is Tivo and how does it work? Top-Rated Digital Cameras and Photos: - Top HD Video Cameras - Buying a Digital SLR Camera Entertainment/Hobbies

Health & Fitness: - Teeter Inversion Tables - Recumbent Exercise Bikes Travel - Disneyland Hotel Guide - Hotels and Lodging - Top 10 Things to Do in New York Sports and Outdoors