As is the case with most flooring materials, carpet only lasts for so long. But sometimes it’s hard to know when you should replace carpet, and you may have to consider various factors — including its age, wear, stains and damage — before you can decide. If you’re uncertain about how often to replace carpet, this guide shows you what signs to look for.
If you’re wondering how often to replace your carpet, unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. While carpets don’t come with an expiration date, there are several clear signs when your carpet needs to be replaced.
For instance, if you just cleaned your carpet and it still has a wet dog odor — even if you don’t own a dog — it may be time for you to replace your carpet. Carpet captures and traps debris, dust, dirt and allergens, and over the years, removing these unwanted materials becomes exceedingly difficult.
Some other signs you may need to replace your carpet include:
If your carpet is showing any of the above signs and you’re ready to look for a replacement, keep the following eight things in mind:
Perhaps the most important consideration is your lifestyle. For instance, if you have a big family and several pets, you’ll have more factors to consider than if you live alone. Your children and family will require a carpet that can withstand more foot traffic and have greater resistance to stains.
You also may want to pick a carpet color similar to the color of your pets. This way, the hair they shed on the carpet will be less visible.
Consider the typical weather where you live and whether any types of carpet are particularly suitable for your climate. For instance, if you live in a sunny climate, you’ll want a carpet that’s more resistant to fading, and if you live in a wetter climate, find a carpet that’s less susceptible to mold and mildew, such as synthetic carpet fibers.
Many shoppers falsely assume that carpets with higher face weights are of higher quality than those with lower face weights. However, the overall quality of a carpet is determined by many different factors, including density and twist.
While the underpad won’t be visible once you install your carpet, it is very important for the comfort and lifespan of the carpet. You should buy the highest-quality underpad you can afford.
The underpad’s purpose is to absorb the impact of foot traffic so your carpet doesn’t need to. This minimizes the wear and tear your carpet experiences carpet, allowing it to look newer for longer. Also, a high-grade underpad will also make your carpet feel more comfortable under your feet.
If your budget is limited, we strongly suggest that you spend a little less on the carpet and a little more on the underpad. A lower-grade carpet will feel and look better if it has a high-grade underpad underneath.
If two carpets look and feel the same, this doesn’t mean their performance will be the same. So, how do you compare different carpets? Make sure they both have:
The last factor can be a good indication of quality. For example, if one carpet has a warranty of 10 years and the other 20, the quality of the two carpets is obviously different.
Before going shopping, we recommend that you take measurements. This will give you a rough idea of what the project will cost, so you’ll know which carpets you can realistically buy and not go over budget. It’s also a good idea to give those measurements to your salesperson.
The reason we advise this is because calculating requirements for carpet is more complex than just adding up the square footage of all your carpeted rooms. You must consider various other things, including the direction of the carpet pile and the carpet roll’s width. The salesperson can account for these factors and provide you with more accurate total square footage requirements.
If you have previous experience installing carpet, you may be able to install your new carpeting. especially if the setup is very simple, such as a square room. However, anything more complicated than that is better left in the hands of professionals. While having your carpet professionally installed costs more, a poorly-installed carpet looks terrible and doesn’t perform the way it should, either. Additionally, warranties often require that the carpet is installed by a professional to be valid.
Metro Flooring Contractors is a Baltimore-based company that provides brand-name, high-quality carpet at reasonable prices. Feel free to browse our carpet products online or, if you’d like us to help you find the carpet that’s perfect for your home or business, you can schedule an appointment.