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Top 100 Carpet Questions & Answers 5
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The Carpet Professor reveals solutions to common carpet problems, avoiding scams and making costly mistakes.
Q. Where do I Find Carpet Specifications?
How can I obtain all the carpet specifications if they are not displayed on the back of the carpet sample? I've been to several carpet dealers and only the face-weight seems easy to find.
Answer:
Every manufacturer's carpet sample should have complete carpet specifications displayed on the back. But sadly, many carpet dealers remove or alter the labels or use private labels which change, alter or fail to list all the carpet specifications you need.
Carpet Samples with Private Labels?
Many retailers change, remove or alter the carpet specs posted on their carpet samples to prevent you from shopping around and comparison shopping at other nearby carpet retailers.
It's getting harder to find the carpet specs these days, but every dealer does have full access to the information you need if you ask and are patient.
It could take a few days for them to obtain the carpet specs you are asking for. They might have to call the manufacturer or their mill rep if they don't have a "spec sheet" handy.
Many carpet dealers can login to the carpet manufacturer website where all the information is freely available to all member dealers. Carpet Specifications Explained
You deserve to know exactly what you are buying. If any carpet dealer can't provide you with all the carpet information you ask for or say they don't have access to it, then you should leave and buy from a dealer who can and will provide you with it. The carpet specifications you need full access to are:
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Brand name,
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Style name,
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Color,
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Length of warranty,
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Fiber type,
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Face weight,
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Tuft Twist,
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Pile density,
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Pile height,
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Stain treatment
Why Don't Carpet Dealers have Carpet Specifications on Samples?
I’ve tried to follow your advice and look for the right Face Weight, Pile Density and Tuft Twist rating? The only places that seem to publish these key specs are the big box retailers: Lowe's, Home Depot (some) and Menard's. Many local dealers don't show the specifications on their carpet samples.
The salespeople seem to know the face-weight but often don’t know the Tuft Twist or Pile Density. The one carpet I’m considering buying that fits in our budget is a Martha Stewart Nylon from Home Depot.
I’m carpeting 288 sq feet (den area with lots of traffic and furniture) and have $1000 budget. They will install and give memory foam pad for that price. I’m concerned that density is only 1613 but face weight is 43.6. They don’t show the Tuft Twist either. What do you think of this carpet?
Alan's Answer:
Not all locally owned dealers are honest and reputable, I am sorry to say, and some carpet salespeople are reluctant take the time to provide their customers with carpet specifications because it is a "hassle" to do so.
The problem is partly due to private labeling. Some stores don't want you to be able to shop around so they limit the carpet information available to the customer and change the style and color names to confuse you.
I think that's what you have encountered with your local dealer visits.
Here's what you need to know:
Every locally owned carpet dealer has at least three ways to locate all the carpet specifications you need:
1. They can call the manufacturer - most mills are happy to fax or email the spec sheet.
2. They can go online to their mill account to ge the specs. This may require the manager to get the info.
3. They can call their mill rep to get the info. Every dealer has a way to contact their account rep.
It's true that the carpet makers are not putting the information on the samples like they used to in the past, but any decent carpet salesperson should be happy to get you the information you seek.
Most folks narrow their carpet choices down to three or four and then ask for the spec sheets for those to compare them all side by side. However, you have to ask for it and be patient enough to wait for the information to be acquired.
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Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco and Menard's have been known to use private labels on their carpet samples to prevent folks from comparison shopping.
Apparently they have negotiated with the mill or other sources to have some of the carpet specs shown on their samples. I think they are wise for doing so. It certainly helps them "seem" be more transparent in that regard.
Unfortunately they may not be as transparent when it comes to providing quality installations and good customer service after the sale.
From what I have read, many homeowners who have had a carpet complaint of some sort "after the sale" have not been happy with the way they were treated.
Having to call numerous times to try to get a remedy, and find that no one is ready and willing to step up and accept responsibility for the customer complaint at hand.
This is another key reason why I prefer buying carpet from local dealers over the big-box retail stores. You usually get much better response if you ever have a complaint of any sort.
What are Good Carpet Specifications?
I think that I have found the correct carpet for me. No pets, small home, 2 adults. Want something that is easy to take care of and wears well. I live in a wooded area, so fir needles can get tracked in, but basically, we don’t wear shoes in the house and don’t have any out of the ordinary things going on that would trash a carpet (non smoking etc)
I am looking at a carpet that is 100% Solutia Inc Wear-Dated Nylon, Average face weight is 61.3, twist is 5.5, density is 3108. I don’t know if this is good, bad or indifferent, because it is so hard to compare carpets. I know you recommend nylon. Do those numbers sound ok?
Of course, our budget does play into this and we can’t afford to just buy the most expensive carpet there is in order to be sure to get the best. Should we be looking at something different?
Alan's Answer:
This sounds like a great carpet for you. However, your work is not done yet...
You have not mentioned the price they are charging you for this carpet, and in order to help you be sure you get a good deal, I need to know the brand and style of this carpet and what store you plan on buying it from.
You also still need to decide on the right pad, and get everything installed properly. Give me some more details and I will help you save some dough.
Also, tell me what zip code you live in. Maybe I can recommend a local dealer where you can get another free estimate for comparison purposes. Carpet Specifications Explained
Do I have Bad Carpet Seams?
Q. When my wife and I were shopping for our new carpet I discovered your website. It was amazingly informative and saved us big trouble. We were starting from scratch and were all set to buy polyester from a discount store.
Your site really got me thinking about long term value and instead we went to a local family carpet store that had been in the neighborhood for 40 years.
We bought a beautiful 68 oz. Lee True Traditions ANSO Crush Resistor III with a 19# Ultimate Bigelow rubber waffle pad. They installed Monday and it's beautiful. Plush too, like walking on air.
However, I do notice the lines where the seams meet in doorways and such. I called our salesperson and she said that these lines would go away over time as the carpet wears in.
She said to give it a couple weeks and if the lines don't
go away to let her know and they'll make it right. This is our first (and I hope
last) wall to wall carpet and I just wanted to get your opinion of this. How
visible should seams be when first installed?
Alan's Answer:
No seam is invisible and you should not expect perfection. However, you don't want your seams to look ugly forever so if they are not looking good to you today then don't let them put you off any longer.
Your carpet seams won't look any better next week or next year. If your carpet seams are very obvious or unsightly today, you should expect them to come out and fix it immediately.
DO NOT WAIT! Remember that no carpet seam is totally invisible, but you have every right to expect them to look reasonably nice and not be too noticeable.
Q. What is Apartment-Grade Carpet?
I live in Long Beach California and own an 827 sq. ft. condo that I will be renting. Approximately, how much should I pay for a nylon plush carpet? Don't count the extra fees, your website helped me out with that.
Alan's Answer:
In a rental you could pay as little as $8.00 per yard for an apartment-grade nylon carpet, or pay a little more ($9-$14) for an upgraded nylon carpet.
I don't recommend spending too much money on the carpet as renters rarely take proper care of it and you could end up replacing it more often than you like. Don't buy from a carpet retailer; buy from a carpet vendor who caters to apartments and rental property.
Call a local apartment complex and ask the property manager who they use for carpet replacements. Then call the carpet vendor and tell them you have an apartment that needs new carpet and want to have their representative come by with some samples. They will come out and measure your place and to give you a bid. This is the best way for you to go and it can save you a lot of money.
Sherwin Williams is a well known paint company, but few know that they also provide low cost carpet and vinyl replacements for apartments and rental properties through their Floor Covering Division.
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