Your fashion investment

When you shop for carpet you’ll find a wealth of colours, textures and styles - in fact, sometimes it may seem a bit overwhelming. That’s why we recommend you think of carpet as a fashion investment. After all, you’re not simply covering your floors - you’re uncovering the beauty of your home, and bringing your own personal decorating style to life. Think of carpet as a fashion item, and you’ll stay clearly focused.

What to Look for in a Carpet

While colour and price are essential factors when shopping for carpet, the right colour at the lowest price does not necessarily represent the best value.

Performance value, the way the carpet actually performs when it is on your floor, should be your primary consideration. It’s not easy to predict how well a carpet will perform in your home. The better the fibre and the denser it’s packed, the better the carpet will perform. Low quality carpet is easy to spot - it’s thin and lightweight. A better indication of a product’s performance value can be found in the manufacturer’s warranty which is detailed further later. Virtually any carpet looks good when it’s first installed, but the longer it stays looking good, the greater its real value.

Be Prepared

As your plans develop, you’ll collect fabric swatches, paint chips, photo examples from design magazines, and other helpful tools. Be sure to bring these with you when you shop - and always bring a sketch of your room’s floor plan.

Beware of bargains. Most retailers offer legitimate sales at various times. However, beware of unbelievable and unreasonable bargains and advertising claims. Cheap carpet that wears out quickly can prove to be more costly in the long run. Remember, you get what you pay for.

Consider the cost per year. With any long term investment the true cost of the carpet must reflect its length of satisfactory service. Don’t economize on high-traffic, heavy-wear floors in your home like halls and family rooms, buy the best quality you can afford because if you have to replace the carpet it will cost you more in the long run not only for the cost of the replacement carpet, but the cost and inconvenience of another installation.