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Make Your Choice
There are many choices in carpeting. The variety of materials that carpeting is made with means that you can have just about any look that you want. Regardless of what type of carpet you choose, you will get better wear if you choose carpet made from one type of fabric rather than a blend. Of the many choices that you have to make when deciding on a carpet, the density is one of the most important. A higher density carpet looks better, feels better, wears better, and has more resilience. While there are other measurements that the carpet store will discuss, the density is one to pay attention to. The fabric that your carpet is made from is a matter of personal preference. Nylon is the most common, and has many benefits. Because it is so widely used in carpets, it has developed over the years into a very nice option. It is stain resistant, often with Teflon or Scotch Guard woven into the fibers. It is made to reduce the build up of static electricity, and it wears well. Polyester is a nice choice for carpeting as well. It naturally resists stains and fading. It does absorb oil the most easily of all the fabric choices, which can make some stains difficult to remove. Purchasing carpet that has been treated with Teflon or Scotch Guard reduces this oil absorption. Olefin is the most economical choice for carpeting. It is very inexpensive, although it has drawbacks as well. It does not have much resilience and will crush easily. Olefin makes a good choice if you suffer from allergies or have pets, and want to replace your carpet every few years. Measure Carefully When you are buying carpet it is important to measure carefully. There is nothing worse than having the carpet installer show up and being six inches short in each room. To accurately measure the room for carpet, measure the length and the width, rounding each measurement up to the nearest one half foot. Once you have your measurements, multiply length times width to get total square feet. If you are replacing the carpet in more than one room measure the length and width in each room, figure the square feet for each room, and then add to get the total square feet. Once you have this total, add 10% to account for seams and waste. Many carpet stores sell carpet by the yard; in which case, divide the total square feet by nine. If you are working with an experienced carpet installation contractor, you may feel more comfortable with him doing the measurements. If you are purchasing from a carpet salesman, you can probably do just as good a job, if not better, than the salesman. Just take your time and measure everything twice. Splurge on Installation No matter what type of carpet you want, to get the best wear and length of life, as well as the best looking carpet, splurge on professional installation. When choosing an installer, do not think that you have to use the carpet installer from the store were you buy your carpet. If one store has carpet that you love, but you have heard bad reviews about the installers, insist on hiring your own carpet installers. If you hear positive reviews about a crew that works for a carpet store, but the store does not carry the type of carpet you want, ask. Most carpet stores can special order anything that you want. Regardless of how you choose to buy and install the carpet, remember, the installation is the most important part of the carpeting process. Shoddy installation will result in loose carpet, uneven wear and damaged woodwork around the floor. Breathe Easy New carpeting, unlike puppies and new cars, does not smell good. The noxious odors of new carpeting are overwhelming, and, particularly for people with preexisting respiratory problems, can present a health concern. To reduce the problems associated with new carpet, there are several precautions that you can take. Ask the carpet store if they will unroll and air out your carpet before delivering it. Many carpet stores, particularly the ones that are locally owned, are willing to do this, and it greatly reduces the amount of odor once the carpet comes into your home. Choose a time for installation that the windows and doors can be left open. While you cannot control the weather, or expect the carpet installers to drop everything and come to your home, it makes sense to wait until the extended forecast looks clear and sunny before scheduling installation. Leave the windows and doors open and run fans as much as possible for several days after installation to remove as much of the new carpet fumes as possible.
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