How do I choose a carpet?
Discussion
I'm looking at carpeting all the bedrooms in my house. I had an independent carpet fitter round to provide a quote, and it left me more confused than before! He recommended that I not go for a deep pile such as invictus sirius (20.5mm pile) as it'll flatten quickly, but he also said he really liked Abingdon, which from what I can see are all deep pile. He left me some sample books and he recommended solent silky ultra which is a 70oz velvet carpet with a 10.5mm pile. As nice as it was, I'm not sure if I like any of the colours. I love the feeling of deep pile so that's my preference. Curious to hear what others think.
I've got plushwalk 12mm underlay. I don't have kids or pets. Hit me with suggestions.
I've got plushwalk 12mm underlay. I don't have kids or pets. Hit me with suggestions.
I use carpetright and take their advice. But in a nutshell, money buys you more quality (and often wool%), deep pile is fine in low traffic areas (don't put it in hallways, or other high traffic zones), and for me, I spend based on room usage - i.e. we have a cheap but nice carpet in our bedrooms as only one 1 of the 3 is used regularly. No point splurging on carpet in rooms used a few times a year. I'd spend it in the lounge, btu then I spend on rugs as it's fake wooden flooring.
As others have said, deep pile is nice in locations that are low usage, but normally it will suffer more from usage and cost more. Also in areas with open spaces, like perhaps a lounge you'll start to notice usage patterns as people cross a room more so than with something shorter. In smaller rooms with more furniture and less usage then it's less obvious and less important.
Budget is very important though and getting something cheap is good in spare bedrooms as suggested is a good way to save. Hallways and other very high usage places are also a good place to save ironically as it's great to choose a cheaper material with good wear characteristics as opposed to something nicer which might look great on day 1 but age quickly.
Budget is very important though and getting something cheap is good in spare bedrooms as suggested is a good way to save. Hallways and other very high usage places are also a good place to save ironically as it's great to choose a cheaper material with good wear characteristics as opposed to something nicer which might look great on day 1 but age quickly.
SteBrown91 said:
...expensive underlay but shallow pile carpet. Have that soft luxurious feel but without it going flat.
This is the route I always follow. In my (limited) experience, the underlay is the thing that makes the real difference to how it feels when you walk on it. I'd rather have cheap carpet and expensive underlaynewberry said:
From experience i would'nt get deep pile carpet again, it feels lovely underfoot for a few weeks but as the carpet fitter said, it flattens down and looks a bit rubbish really quickly. We were warned about this also but chose to ignore the advice as well 
I can remember shag pile carpeting in the 80's that had a rake to bring it back.I don't have the details to hand but in December I had a deep pile carpet laid on my lounge/diner against all the advice to go for a shorter pile in high traffic areas. It has seen Christmas and several parties plus normal usage for us (including 2 children) and it doesn't look or feel much different now to when it was laid. There's a slight difference in feel (eg when compared to the carpet behind the door that is never walked on) but certainly doesn't feel flat and I expect it to spring back fully when I run the Vax over it in the next few weeks.
Independent fitter said I might be looking at 60-70% of the life of a shorter pile carpet for similar money which I accepted as I really wanted a fluffy carpet under my feet!
Independent fitter said I might be looking at 60-70% of the life of a shorter pile carpet for similar money which I accepted as I really wanted a fluffy carpet under my feet!
newberry said:
From experience i would'nt get deep pile carpet again, it feels lovely underfoot for a few weeks but as the carpet fitter said, it flattens down and looks a bit rubbish really quickly. We were warned about this also but chose to ignore the advice as well
You may also have to plane a slice off the bottoms of all the doors...!OP - rather than just consider what a carpet fitter says, go to carpet shops and get your paws on the stuff and ask questions.
I’ve got a flooring company and fitted deep pile carpets in my house when I first moved in. Wouldn’t do it again the amount of maintenance it needs to maintain the look and feel is a nightmare.
A really good quality underlay will give you that nice soft underfoot feeling with a shorter pile will make it a little easier to keep in good shape
A really good quality underlay will give you that nice soft underfoot feeling with a shorter pile will make it a little easier to keep in good shape
Carpets are one of those things that really reflect how much is spent on them.
I would spend as much as I could afford for the living room carpet. Look for piles that are really closely knitted together. If lots of space between the pile, which is generally cheaper, it flattens quicker.
I would spend as much as I could afford for the living room carpet. Look for piles that are really closely knitted together. If lots of space between the pile, which is generally cheaper, it flattens quicker.
Simpo Two said:
dhutch said:
I like a wool carpet.
We are using Cavalier 'Country Collection' in Hobnob throughout our stairs, landing, bedrooms.
Watch out with 100% wool though because moths are very fond of it, as I've found out.We are using Cavalier 'Country Collection' in Hobnob throughout our stairs, landing, bedrooms.
Only noticeable damage is a spot at the top of the stairs where our elderly dog decided to pee on it every night for about 3 weeks, before giving it up as a bag job as fast as it started, but I dont thing anything would take that punishment and the associated cleaning well. Fortunately its a split level landing, so a small piece that will be swapped out when the next bedroom on the list (ours!) is renovated.
bennno said:
A decent 80/20 wool blend twist is best imho. In a heavy weight, say 55 oz. Cormar is reasonable and can be brought on line.
This. We have Cormar 80/20 wool/polypropylene 55oz density twist carpet (with good quality underlay) in our lounge and dining room. It looks as good as the day it was laid a few years back in spite of moderate foot traffic. Once-weekly use of a Sebo upright vacuum cleaner with a brush roller helps to keep the carpet in tip top nick.rinseout said:
I'm looking at carpeting all the bedrooms in my house. I had an independent carpet fitter round to provide a quote, and it left me more confused than before! He recommended that I not go for a deep pile such as invictus sirius (20.5mm pile) as it'll flatten quickly, but he also said he really liked Abingdon, which from what I can see are all deep pile. He left me some sample books and he recommended solent silky ultra which is a 70oz velvet carpet with a 10.5mm pile. As nice as it was, I'm not sure if I like any of the colours. I love the feeling of deep pile so that's my preference. Curious to hear what others think.
I've got plushwalk 12mm underlay. I don't have kids or pets. Hit me with suggestions.
Is that likely to change ever? I've got plushwalk 12mm underlay. I don't have kids or pets. Hit me with suggestions.
Back in 2008 I was single and had no intention of either. Fitted some lovely light coloured wool carpets throughout.
FFWD to 2010 I met my now wife. Married 2012, carpets still pristine.
Kid arrived in 2015 .... cue lots of "Oh FFS!" moments with various stains.
After I'd hit the roof on the first one I had to learn to just let them go. I had vivid memories of me spilling a small pot of Humbrol enamel paint on the middle of the living room carpet when I was painting some Airfix model as an 8yo, bless him my Dad didn't go bonkers!
We've got to the point where we are past caring and living with most of them until we can face the upheaval of a refresh, but just consider that if your circumstances could change.
I never really knew anything about carpets until we took the plunge whilst doing our house up, and went for this:
https://www.crucial-trading.com/product/grey-orchi...
which we're told is great for high-traffic areas. We had it coated with Intec stain protector and it was laid on a 10mm Plush Walk underlay. All I can say is it feels absolutely fantastic underfoot, really luxurious!
As with most things, I think you do get what you pay for.
https://www.crucial-trading.com/product/grey-orchi...
which we're told is great for high-traffic areas. We had it coated with Intec stain protector and it was laid on a 10mm Plush Walk underlay. All I can say is it feels absolutely fantastic underfoot, really luxurious!
As with most things, I think you do get what you pay for.
Shooter McGavin said:
rinseout said:
I'm looking at carpeting all the bedrooms in my house. I had an independent carpet fitter round to provide a quote, and it left me more confused than before! He recommended that I not go for a deep pile such as invictus sirius (20.5mm pile) as it'll flatten quickly, but he also said he really liked Abingdon, which from what I can see are all deep pile. He left me some sample books and he recommended solent silky ultra which is a 70oz velvet carpet with a 10.5mm pile. As nice as it was, I'm not sure if I like any of the colours. I love the feeling of deep pile so that's my preference. Curious to hear what others think.
I've got plushwalk 12mm underlay. I don't have kids or pets. Hit me with suggestions.
Is that likely to change ever? I've got plushwalk 12mm underlay. I don't have kids or pets. Hit me with suggestions.
Back in 2008 I was single and had no intention of either. Fitted some lovely light coloured wool carpets throughout.
FFWD to 2010 I met my now wife. Married 2012, carpets still pristine.
Kid arrived in 2015 .... cue lots of "Oh FFS!" moments with various stains.
After I'd hit the roof on the first one I had to learn to just let them go. I had vivid memories of me spilling a small pot of Humbrol enamel paint on the middle of the living room carpet when I was painting some Airfix model as an 8yo, bless him my Dad didn't go bonkers!
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