Five things you should know……..

Here are some tips on how to get the right carpet, at the right price. 

Guarantees.  Most manufacturers offer a wear guarantee with their product.  Ask your retailer what guarantees are offered and if there are any additional guarantees with the product, or service, offered by the store.

Discounted prices.  This is common for many carpet retailers.  Don’t be taken in by extreme discounts or discounts on discounts!   These offers can be misleading and the discounted price is all the product was worth in the first place so whereever you can, compare the price and make sure you are not just taking the price of the carpet.  Find out how much the carpet will cost fully installed in your home or business, including all the accesories, the fitting and any storage or delivery charges. 

Contrary to what some retailers tell you,  and web based advice, you don’t always need new underlay.  Ask your retailer to check the condition of your current underlay first.

Type of carpet.    There are many factors to be taken into account when considering the suitability of a new carpet.  Wearability and colour are probably top of your list but what most retailers won’t tell you is, don’t even consider a loop pile carpet if you have pets, children or an upright vacuum.  It only takes one small loop to get caught in a claw, toy or beater bar and it will run right across your new carpet.   Look for ranges with a cut pile and stain-resistance. 

Fibres.  Manmade fibres, or the inclusion of some manmade fibre, will not only help with stain resistance but also durability.  Natural fibres will help with appearance retention so should keep your carpet looking good for longer.  There can be pitfalls with certain styles of carpet in certain fibres for example an all wool Berber style is more likely to pill and matt than a man-made equivalent. Pilling may not affect the wear of the carpet but the appearance could eventually be dissapointing.

Professional Measuring.  This may seem simple, but there are pitfalls that you can fall into and it could be a very expensive mistake if you end up buying too much or, even worse, too little.  Alcoves and doorways may catch you out, and an experienced measurer should be able to suggest ways of saving money.  Many carpets have a nap or a pattern, and you need to know which way round these should go.  A reputable retailer who cares that you will get a good result, and who has confidence in their product and service, will be pleased to measure up for you, free, without any obligation to buy.

Buying new carpets should be fun and exciting – we hope this advice helps to keep it that way.