Carpets - what do I need to know?
Discussion
I am having to buy carpets for the first time in my life, doing 4 bedrooms and the stairs and landing. Brief research says that synthetic carpets have improved massively, and have the benefit of being easier to clean and not attract moths. However, we really like loop pile and it seems you cannot get synthetic carpets in loop. We are going for a fine strip on the stairs and loop really works well, so it will be either 100% wool or a mix. We will probably keep to loop in the bedrooms as well as we like the look, but with kids on the horizon I worry that they might be tough to keep clean. Also, I understand to pay for good underlay and avoid carpet right etc, which is fine, I've got a good local independent.
Few questions:-
Are moths really a problem on wool or mix carpet? I'm on a modern housing estate in a semi rural location
How easily can loop wool/mix be cleaned? I know you can't bleach it
What is the advantage or disadvantage of 100% versus a 80/20 or 50/50 mix?
Brands, are Manx and Cormar any good? are there brands to avoid?
Thanks
Few questions:-
Are moths really a problem on wool or mix carpet? I'm on a modern housing estate in a semi rural location
How easily can loop wool/mix be cleaned? I know you can't bleach it
What is the advantage or disadvantage of 100% versus a 80/20 or 50/50 mix?
Brands, are Manx and Cormar any good? are there brands to avoid?
Thanks
Ours are all man-made fibres so can't help you much. What I will say is that I will never ever clean carpets again! Sure, loads of muck came out of them and they initially looked great but within a couple of weeks they began to look much worse than before - I replaced the lot a few months later. I'm pretty sure that cleaning carpets removes the stain repellent so I now treat carpets as replaceable ever four or five years.
we bought cheap crap in our first home at its a massive false economy unless all that matters to you is having something underfoot. this was in the 5 to 6 quid per square metre range.
we replaced it with some stuff that was very decent at approx. twice the price. this felt great and lasted well before we sold the house. you can spend three or four times this if you want to however unless you have major wear issues my preference would be to throw in something half decent like this (with top quality underlay) and look to change it more frequently versus buying an axminster and leaving it for decades.
we replaced it with some stuff that was very decent at approx. twice the price. this felt great and lasted well before we sold the house. you can spend three or four times this if you want to however unless you have major wear issues my preference would be to throw in something half decent like this (with top quality underlay) and look to change it more frequently versus buying an axminster and leaving it for decades.
I would Steer clear of anything containing wool it's a nightmare to clean stains off of, we hated the 100% wool one so much we ripped the lot up after 3 years replaced with a very nice quality polypropylene carpet because it's man made the dyes are actually the whole way through the fibres meaning bleach cleaning is fine so much better in my opinion of course
Buy the best underlay that you can. We bought this when doing up the bedrooms a few years ago.
https://www.tradepriced.co.uk/tredaire_colours_red...
It made a big difference to the feel underfoot. We will be doing the same again on a recent extension, paying a little extra on decent underlay and buying a half decent carpet that can be replaced every few years.
Tip- source the underlay yourself, works out a lot cheaper than paying a premium for it at most carpet stores.
https://www.tradepriced.co.uk/tredaire_colours_red...
It made a big difference to the feel underfoot. We will be doing the same again on a recent extension, paying a little extra on decent underlay and buying a half decent carpet that can be replaced every few years.
Tip- source the underlay yourself, works out a lot cheaper than paying a premium for it at most carpet stores.
JackReacher said:
with kids on the horizon I worry that they might be tough to keep clean.
Are you sure you want carpet? With kids wood floors are 1000% times easier to keep clean.I had a year in a house with a baby and carpets. Even though they were just on the stairs and in the bedrooms I spent hours scrubbing all sorts of s
t out them. Sometimes literally.Only now the kids are 10+ are we vaguely considering carpets on the stairs and upstairs for the next one.
Just a thought.
AC43 said:
Are you sure you want carpet? With kids wood floors are 1000% times easier to keep clean.
I had a year in a house with a baby and carpets. Even though they were just on the stairs and in the bedrooms I spent hours scrubbing all sorts of st out them. Sometimes literally.
Only now the kids are 10+ are we vaguely considering carpets on the stairs and upstairs for the next one.
Just a thought.
Thanks, this is a big consideration and a concern of wool carpets. We are definitely going with a hard surface over all the downstairs, with a preference for carpet on stairs (safer?) and bedrooms as feels warmer, and also absorbs noise, which is also a problem with newish build.I had a year in a house with a baby and carpets. Even though they were just on the stairs and in the bedrooms I spent hours scrubbing all sorts of s
t out them. Sometimes literally.Only now the kids are 10+ are we vaguely considering carpets on the stairs and upstairs for the next one.
Just a thought.
JackReacher said:
Thanks, this is a big consideration and a concern of wool carpets. We are definitely going with a hard surface over all the downstairs, with a preference for carpet on stairs (safer?) and bedrooms as feels warmer, and also absorbs noise, which is also a problem with newish build.
You're better having something on the stairs, miniature elephants stomping all day long.We went with Axminster carpet - wool for our living room about 8 years ago after having a tour over the factory.
Expensive but by far the best carpet we have had for comfort, feel, resistance to crushing and cleaning. We have a wool/felt underlay as well. We have had 3 children and 2 dogs do everything you can imagin on and to the carpet and it still comes back in excellent condition.
http://www.axminster-carpets.co.uk/advice/get-the-...
The rest of the house has hard flooring downstairs and a mix carpet upstairs. Stair carpet will need changing so again will likely go for a hard wearing wool again.
no problems with moths. Regular hovering I think stops that.
Expensive but by far the best carpet we have had for comfort, feel, resistance to crushing and cleaning. We have a wool/felt underlay as well. We have had 3 children and 2 dogs do everything you can imagin on and to the carpet and it still comes back in excellent condition.
http://www.axminster-carpets.co.uk/advice/get-the-...
The rest of the house has hard flooring downstairs and a mix carpet upstairs. Stair carpet will need changing so again will likely go for a hard wearing wool again.
no problems with moths. Regular hovering I think stops that.
Most wool carpets stocked on the high street will be 80/20, that is 80% wool 20% man made. A lot of man made carpets will be polypropylene, although nylon has made a come back. There are others, even cotton, a read of the web will list them all.
Wool mix is harder wearing and on the whole will last longer, but usually costs more. Modern polypropylene carpets are very good value and as has already been said, can be a bit more resistant to some staining, some are described as bleach cleanable. Wool mix carpets do offer good stain protection via the natural oils in the wool. A new carpet can be stain protected, but it may be a good idea to find out if the manufacturer recommends it in the case of wool, not all of them do.
The majority of carpets on the high street will be a tufted construction, other popular ones may be wilton or loop pile, they are all available in wool and man made. Some carpets will felt back, this has taken over from the old rubber back, this type of carpet is at the cheaper end of the market and doesn't require an under lay. The rest require an under lay and the better ones are more expensive. Some carpet shops offer free under lay when you buy the carpet, it's not always the best quality.
As regards cleaning, both wool and man made carpets can be cleaned, hot water extraction provides a deep clean and is recommended by a lot of the manufacturers. Professional carpet cleaning is far better than DIY methods, as resoiling can be a problem following DIY attempts, this is due to detergents not being fully extracted. Good professional carpet cleaning businesses are usually members of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA), but recommendation from previous clients is the best way of finding any good trader.
Moth damage will only be found in natural fibre carpets, but regular vacuuming should stop any problems. Periodic vacuuming behind furniture is important, it's in these places that moths may lay eggs.
Wool mix is harder wearing and on the whole will last longer, but usually costs more. Modern polypropylene carpets are very good value and as has already been said, can be a bit more resistant to some staining, some are described as bleach cleanable. Wool mix carpets do offer good stain protection via the natural oils in the wool. A new carpet can be stain protected, but it may be a good idea to find out if the manufacturer recommends it in the case of wool, not all of them do.
The majority of carpets on the high street will be a tufted construction, other popular ones may be wilton or loop pile, they are all available in wool and man made. Some carpets will felt back, this has taken over from the old rubber back, this type of carpet is at the cheaper end of the market and doesn't require an under lay. The rest require an under lay and the better ones are more expensive. Some carpet shops offer free under lay when you buy the carpet, it's not always the best quality.
As regards cleaning, both wool and man made carpets can be cleaned, hot water extraction provides a deep clean and is recommended by a lot of the manufacturers. Professional carpet cleaning is far better than DIY methods, as resoiling can be a problem following DIY attempts, this is due to detergents not being fully extracted. Good professional carpet cleaning businesses are usually members of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA), but recommendation from previous clients is the best way of finding any good trader.
Moth damage will only be found in natural fibre carpets, but regular vacuuming should stop any problems. Periodic vacuuming behind furniture is important, it's in these places that moths may lay eggs.
Spare tyre said:
Goto smaller local places
I could t believe the price difference
I second this! Not just the price, but the genuine advice you get will help you too! I could t believe the price difference
FYI, I laid nice quality Quickstep laminate throughout our downstairs about 12+ years ago (wanted to cut in flat speaker cable in 2-3mm underlay & decided it would be easier to DIY!) & it still looks great! Used small shaped quadrant painted white on skirting to trim it which finished it off a lot better than several I've seen at friends houses where a pine strip is stuck on that doesn't blend in
nurburgring1 said:
Most wool carpets stocked on the high street will be 80/20, that is 80% wool 20% man made. A lot of man made carpets will be polypropylene, although nylon has made a come back. There are others, even cotton, a read of the web will list them all.
Wool mix is harder wearing and on the whole will last longer, but usually costs more. Modern polypropylene carpets are very good value and as has already been said, can be a bit more resistant to some staining, some are described as bleach cleanable. Wool mix carpets do offer good stain protection via the natural oils in the wool. A new carpet can be stain protected, but it may be a good idea to find out if the manufacturer recommends it in the case of wool, not all of them do.
The majority of carpets on the high street will be a tufted construction, other popular ones may be wilton or loop pile, they are all available in wool and man made. Some carpets will felt back, this has taken over from the old rubber back, this type of carpet is at the cheaper end of the market and doesn't require an under lay. The rest require an under lay and the better ones are more expensive. Some carpet shops offer free under lay when you buy the carpet, it's not always the best quality.
As regards cleaning, both wool and man made carpets can be cleaned, hot water extraction provides a deep clean and is recommended by a lot of the manufacturers. Professional carpet cleaning is far better than DIY methods, as resoiling can be a problem following DIY attempts, this is due to detergents not being fully extracted. Good professional carpet cleaning businesses are usually members of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA), but recommendation from previous clients is the best way of finding any good trader.
Moth damage will only be found in natural fibre carpets, but regular vacuuming should stop any problems. Periodic vacuuming behind furniture is important, it's in these places that moths may lay eggs.
Many thanks, very helpful. It sounds like you're in the trade? Any opinion on Cormar or Manx carpets?Wool mix is harder wearing and on the whole will last longer, but usually costs more. Modern polypropylene carpets are very good value and as has already been said, can be a bit more resistant to some staining, some are described as bleach cleanable. Wool mix carpets do offer good stain protection via the natural oils in the wool. A new carpet can be stain protected, but it may be a good idea to find out if the manufacturer recommends it in the case of wool, not all of them do.
The majority of carpets on the high street will be a tufted construction, other popular ones may be wilton or loop pile, they are all available in wool and man made. Some carpets will felt back, this has taken over from the old rubber back, this type of carpet is at the cheaper end of the market and doesn't require an under lay. The rest require an under lay and the better ones are more expensive. Some carpet shops offer free under lay when you buy the carpet, it's not always the best quality.
As regards cleaning, both wool and man made carpets can be cleaned, hot water extraction provides a deep clean and is recommended by a lot of the manufacturers. Professional carpet cleaning is far better than DIY methods, as resoiling can be a problem following DIY attempts, this is due to detergents not being fully extracted. Good professional carpet cleaning businesses are usually members of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA), but recommendation from previous clients is the best way of finding any good trader.
Moth damage will only be found in natural fibre carpets, but regular vacuuming should stop any problems. Periodic vacuuming behind furniture is important, it's in these places that moths may lay eggs.
JackReacher said:
Many thanks, very helpful. It sounds like you're in the trade? Any opinion on Cormar or Manx carpets?
In my business as a professional carpet cleaner, I come across most makes of carpet. The two manufacturers you mention seem to have a good reputation and as far as I know they manufacture good quality wool and man made fibre carpets. Ashtray83 said:
I would Steer clear of anything containing wool it's a nightmare to clean stains off of, we hated the 100% wool one so much we ripped the lot up after 3 years replaced with a very nice quality polypropylene carpet because it's man made the dyes are actually the whole way through the fibres meaning bleach cleaning is fine so much better in my opinion of course
I depends on the carpet. We've got cream wool scotch-guard carpets, bought from a local supplier. They have lasted about 8 years so far but look nearly new. A couple of years back we moved the sofas to clean and found dried red wine stain (probably me!). Out sofas are in sections so silt wine can go between the seats. Using a standard carpet stain remover the whole lot came out.
Prior to that I had polypropylene and the fibers went very flat after a couple of years. They looked horrible. I will always buy expensive carpets (and underlay now). you pay twice as much but they last so much longer.
Man made stuff - polyprop? - is stain proof, nothing for stains to soak into as it is effectively plastic, so bleach & a good carpet machine will bring them back up to nearly new.
I think they flatten quicker then high quality wool carpets though.
That's the trade off in my opinion, stain proof vs shorter overall life?
I think they flatten quicker then high quality wool carpets though.
That's the trade off in my opinion, stain proof vs shorter overall life?
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