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Carpet Selection: General
Carpet cost, installation and measuring are
discussed here, along with labels and special
considerations for carpet buyers.
Adapted by Shirley M. Niemeyer, Extension
Specialist, Interior Design/Home Furnishings
Carpet can be one of the largest furnishing expenses
you have, so carefully examine the possibilities
before making a purchasing decision. Considerations
in purchasing carpet include cost, installation,
measurements, labeling, color, traffic or activity
level, acoustics and energy.
Cost
Extremely low-cost carpet should be avoided. Often
that "unbelievable bargain" turns out to be a
mill-end second and proves to be no bargain in the
long run.
Good budget-priced carpeting usually lasts up to
five years; medium to top-priced carpeting usually
lasts 10 years or more. Carpets in the higher price
ranges are usually better constructed, have denser
face yarns (surface), and may have more colors,
patterns and textures from which to choose.
In most instances you can find any carpet fiber in
various price ranges, but examine the differences
carefully; quality differs considerably. Make sure
you determine the length of time you want the carpet
to last.
HUD (Housing and Urban Development), a division of
the Federal Housing Administration, uses the
following formula to determine carpet pile density:
pile yarn weight (oz./yd.) × 36
_________________________
= carpet pile density
average pile height
The higher the resultant number, the higher the
carpet pile density. The denser the carpet, the more
durable it will be. Select a density suitable for
the traffic level where the carpet will be used.
Sometimes you can save at seasonal carpet sales, by
purchasing remnants, shopping at discount houses or
by purchasing do-it-yourself carpet. Select a
reputable dealer who will stand behind the
merchandise you purchase.
Also, if you plan to install the carpet yourself,
know your own skill and frustration levels.
Installing a carpet is a large task involving a good
deal of know-how. You may be dollars ahead to pay
for a professional installer. Find out what
guarantees (if any) the store and installer offer.
If cost is a major factor in your selection,
compromise on size rather than quality. The actual
carpet cost should include padding, installation and
credit cost, if you purchase the carpet on credit.
Installation costs usually are the same no matter
what carpet quality you select.
Installation
Always look at a company's carpet installation
performance before you hire them. Know they are
going to do a satisfactory job for you. Talking to
people for whom the installer has worked sometimes
can help you. Observe whether pile or tufts go the
same direction; if not, color changes will be
evident.
While dealing with the salesperson, ask for the
carpet leftovers. You may need them to make repairs
later. If you are replacing an old carpet, ask if
the installer takes up the old carpet and pad. If
they do, what additional charge is involved? Will
they use metal threshold strips to install the
carpet, or some other method? Are these part of the
cost or extra?
Carpet may be installed by stretching and securing
it with "tackless strips" or by gluing it directly
to the floor. Tackless strips are water-resistant
plywood strips containing multiple rows of pins. The
strips are installed around the periphery of the
area to be carpeted, and nailed or glued to the
floor. They can be applied to any kind of flooring.
The carpet is stretched over the strips so the pins
penetrate the carpet backing and hold it securely.
Gluing carpet down is especially good for heavy
traffic areas. Even temperatures and humidity levels
are essential if carpet is to be glued down. Severe
environmental changes can cause buckling, stretching
or shrinking. Floors must be level and dry.
It often is necessary to seam carpet but, once done,
it is rarely noticeable. Seams should not be placed
on heavy traffic ways or turning locations. They
should be close to a wall or in areas where
furniture will be placed. Seams may go across a
doorway, but should not run into a doorway. Find out
where seams are planned for your installation before
closing a deal. You might want to purchase a little
more carpet so seams are not going to cause
problems.
A good pad can extend the life of your carpet. Do
not use an old carpet as padding for your new
carpet. It will be worn in some areas more than in
others and will not provide the support your new
carpet needs.
Measuring
Generally, carpet comes in 9-foot, 12-foot and
15-foot widths. Rooms of the exact same width as the
carpet may require a little extra width for easier
installation. Smaller or larger rooms will need
trimming or piecing. This may mean some loss or
extra cost, depending on the space and shapes
involved. Trimmings may be pieced for hallways or
closets, but be sure tuft-pile run the same
direction so color is the same throughout.
Measure the room or area you plan to carpet so you
know the approximate quantity of carpet you need.
Include measurements for carpet extending into
doorways. If the area is irregular, divide it into
squares or rectangles and measure each area. Add the
results to give you the total square footage. Below
is an example of how this is done:
Your first figures will be square feet. Carpet,
however, is sold by the square yards. Therefore,
divide the first figure by 9 to get square yards.
(414 square feet ÷ 9 = 46 square yards). Multiply
carpet cost by the number of square yards to obtain
the approximate cost. Padding is estimated the same
way. Although you will need slightly less padding
than carpet, for rough estimates use the same
yardage for padding as you used for carpeting.
In some instances the price per square yard includes
the padding and installation. In other cases those
are additional costs. Stairs often cost slightly
more than flat installations. Be sure to ask the
salesperson.
The average residential stair has a tread 10 to 12
inches deep, a riser six to eight inches high, and
is three to four feet wide. Different carpet is
installed on stairs in different ways, so discuss
this with the salesperson or installer. Sometimes
allowing extra carpet on stairs lets you move the
carpet down the stairs as wear occurs. With this in
mind estimate maximum stairway needs, using
three-fourths of a linear yard of carpet per stair.
Let the store from whom you are purchasing the
carpet make final measurements. Then, if a mistake
occurs, they, not you, are responsible and may
rectify the error.
Labels
The wall-to-wall carpeting you put in your home will
not be labeled, but the sample you use in selecting
it will bear a label. It will tell you the name of
the manufacturer or distributor, the generic names
of the carpet fibers (and, perhaps, the company
trade name), the percentage of each fiber and, if
imported, the country of origin and a Federal Trade
Commission registration number.
Be sure all label information is written on the
invoice and on any sales contract. The label
information helps provide care information for the
carpeting and also may prove helpful for other
reasons later. In some cases, it can be useful in
knowing you are receiving what you contracted to
purchase, and not an entirely different piece of
merchandise. Other information also may be found on
the sample label that will benefit you later, so
make or obtain a copy of the entire label.
Such things as whether or not the fiber has been
heat set, special finishes that have been applied,
the weight of the face fiber, the kind of backing(s)
used and warranty or guarantee information offered
by the manufacturer may be on the label. Be sure to
read all the small print on the warranty or
guarantee.
The construction method and materials usedą in a
carpet, along with the padding and installation
method used, determine the durability and longevity
of a carpet.
Special Considerations
Special characteristics should be considered for
each room, as well as each living situation, before
buying. These include the activities of the space,
the traffic, color, acoustical properties desired,
insulation qualities needed, tolerance to sunlight
or other weather conditions, and safety.
Every household differs in its use of space, so each
family must carefully evaluate the type of floor
covering it needs.
Heavy-use areas need heavy-duty, durable carpeting,
while lighter-use areas need only medium to
low-quality carpeting.
If a wheelchair, crutches or walker will be used in
the space, the floor cover should be as smooth and
compact as possible. This does not exclude the use
of carpeting; it merely suggests the use of low,
one-level densely packed, pile carpet. Looped pile
rather than cut pile is preferred for ease of wheel
or crutch/walker leg- tip movement.
Consider the abrasiveness of the carpet surface if
crawling infants or young children are in the
family. The more abrasive the carpet, the harder it
will be on the knees, hands, shoes and slacks of
little people.
Activities/traffic
There are different types of activities, activity
levels and traffic in each part of your home. These
differences should be considered in selecting the
floor covering.
A home may be divided into work areas (kitchen,
bathroom, laundry, hobbies, shop), entertainment
areas (living room, dining room, family room),
private areas (bedrooms, den/study), traffic ways
(entries, hallways, stairs) and outdoor living
areas.
Carpeting for work areas and heavy traffic areas
usually is best if constructed in short, dense,
tightly looped, one-level pile. A good moisture
barrier between the primary and secondary backings
keeps any moisture spills from penetrating the
sub-floor, creating mildew or rot. A
soil/stain-resistant finish also is beneficial.
Carpeting for these spaces should be very durable
and resistant to crushing and abrasion.
Private areas usually do not receive the use of
other areas in the house. Any color, texture, fiber
or pile height may be acceptable in these spaces.
Durability usually is not critical in private space.
Entertainment areas usually receive heavy use and
should have very durable floor covering with good
resistance to abrasion, crushing and soiling.
Color
Color selection may be one of the easiest decisions
for you. You know what you have, what you like and
what you want the final result to be. When you are
ready to go shopping for carpeting, take your
knowledge, ideas, measurements and fabric samples,
and see what the market has to offer.
Colors always should be viewed in natural daylight
and in artificial light in the space you plan to use
the color. Take the carpet samples home to look at
them in nightlight as well as daylight, and with
your belongings, not the store surroundings. The
larger the sample, the easier it will be for you to
make a decision.
Solid colors and light colors tend to make space
appear larger, while patterned and dark colors
usually make space appear smaller. Don't let those
facts hinder you in doing something you really want
to do, however.
Soiling shows more readily on white or light yellow
carpeting. Medium colors, color blends and patterns
are best for disguising signs of use between
cleanings. Darker colors tend to show lint and
accumulated dust more readily than light or medium
colors. Selecting a color value the same as the
usual soil in your locality helps keep carpet
looking soil-free longer.
Color is psychologically important. It can affect
not only the apparent size of a space, but the
temperature and mood of a room. The use of warm or
cool colors depends on personal preferences, climate
and the orientation of your home. Blues and greens
often are preferred in rooms having natural light
and southern exposure. Warmer colors may be
preferred in rooms having northern exposure and
little natural light.
Dark rooms might be made lighter using the pastel
tones of warm or cool colors. Light rooms may be
darkened using various shades of colors. Warm colors
might be good choices for homes in regions having
long, snowy seasons, although cool colors should not
be ruled out. Just the opposite applies to using
cool colors in regions of great warmth. Don't select
carpeting only on the basis of color.
Acoustics
Carpeting can improve the acoustical and insulative
value of a space. Cut pile carpeting is more
effective for sound absorption than loop pile. As
pile height and density increase in cut pile, sound
absorption improves. For loop pile carpeting,
however, pile height appears more important than
density. Any padding will increase the carpet's
effectiveness in reducing sound.
Energy
Carpeting can reduce heat loss through the floor.
Savings may be most noticeable in extreme climates,
especially if carpet is installed on an uninsulated
floor over a crawl space or concrete slab. Pile
density and padding are the important factors to
consider here.
For insulating value, wall-to-wall carpeting
constructed with a deep, dense pile having thick,
densely air-pocketed urethane padding serves you
best.
Carpets are not a wise choice for sun-lighted spaces
you wish to use for passive solar collection.
Research shows the thinnest of carpets impede solar
collection in the floor heat sink.
Carpet used in any sun-lighted area fades less if
solution- dyed. Neutral colors show the least
fading, but darker colors absorb more heat into the
space.
Outdoor carpet
If outdoor living areas are to be carpeted, consider
durability, maintenance and tolerance of weather
conditions. Solution dyes tolerate sunlight better
than other dyes. The fiber also must resist sunlight
and heat. Polypropylene/olefin˛ intended for outdoor
use has been chemically treated to resist sun
damage. Untreated polypropylene/olefin deteriorates
in the sun.
Outdoor carpeting must be constructed so moisture
can drain away. It must be capable of being washed
with detergent and hose- rinsed. Jute-backed carpet
will rot if used outdoors. If carpet is used near a
pool containing chlorinated water, it must be able
to withstand the chlorine and any other pool
chemical used.
Snow and ice can build up in outdoor carpeting,
making walking hazardous. Do not invest in outdoor
carpet hoping to make the walkway less hazardous for
winter walking.
The properly chosen outdoor carpeting can be an
asset to the outdoor living space in your home. It
may cut down on area maintenance, also.
Many factors influence the carpet selection you
make. Knowing what those factors are before you go
shopping or make your selection will help make the
process less frustrating.
www.takcarpet.com
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