Avoid scams when replacing old carpet

If professional cleaning cant revive your carpet, its probably time to replace it.

Manufacturers say carpet should last about 10 years. With regular vacuuming, prompt attention to spills and periodic cleaning, it could last longer. But sooner or later, carpet must be replaced.

Before you visit showrooms or invite a salesperson to your home, get comfy with carpet terms and tips, compiled by our team and based on multiple interviews with top-rated carpet experts:

Pile is a carpets visible surface, also called the nap or face. It comes in two styles: loop pile, where both ends of each yarn piece are anchored to the carpet back to form a loop, and cut pile, where only one end of yarn is anchored. Other styles are variations of the cut and loop. Pile can vary greatly. A soft, velvety pile looks luxurious, but shows every footprint, and is best suited to formal rooms. A shorter, more tightly woven carpet works well in a high-traffic hallway or entryway.

Tufting is the most common method of carpet manufacturing, in which yarn ends are pushed through backing to create the pile surface.

Density is the amount of yarn and closeness of the tufts. Check density by bending a carpet corner backward, toward the backing. If you can see very little backing through the tufts, the carpeting has a high density.

Materials for carpet yarn include:

Wool, which hides dirt well and provides a soft look and rich feel, tends to be a luxury option, at $30 to $75 per square yard.

Polyester, strong and relatively inexpensive at an average cost of $13 a square yard. Because polyester is prone to matting and tangling, its a poor choice for high-traffic areas.

Nylon, a popular choice because its soft and durable; resists stains, matting and abrasion; and is easy to clean. Costs range between $10 and $40 a square yard. Be aware that while most nylon has an antistatic coating, it can build a static charge that is uncomfortable and could harm electronic gear.

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Avoid scams when replacing old carpet