As a Consumer Advocate and 30-year veteran of the carpet business… I know how difficult it is to choose new carpet wisely and get a fair & square deal. That’s why I personally hand-pick each one of my Recommended Carpet Stores in Idaho using my own special set of strict business standards, rules and requirements.
My Preferred Carpet and Flooring Stores in Idaho
(Select Your Nearest City Below)
Boise
Capell Flooring and Interiors 2640 E. State Avenue, Suite 140 Meridian Idaho 83642 (208) 288-0151Map
I Don’t See A Carpet Store Near Me! Get a Free Carpet Store Referral from The Carpet Professor!
Just fill out my simple form and I will go to work to locate the best places to buy new carpet and flooring near you. It’s quick, easy and it’s a free service! Don’t take chances…
It is my goal to help you choose new carpet wisely, get a fair and square deal and have your carpet installed correctly. I make no money from your carpet purchase no matter who you choose to buy from.
Inclusion in my directory is by invitation only. No carpet or flooring retailer can buy their way onto my preferred dealer list at any price. I only recommend locally-owned carpet retailers who meet all my strict rules and requirements for inclusion.
Don’t Want To Drive All Over Town?
Many of my preferred carpet dealers provide a free shop-at-home service. You just need to call and set up a convenient time to have them bring samples to your home for you to consider. Of course, there is no obligation to buy.
Not Just Carpet… Carpet and Flooring!
My Recommended Carpet Stores in Idaho? I use the term “Carpet Stores” but my recommended carpet stores also carry a full line of popular flooring products including hardwoods, luxury vinyl tile, sheet vinyl, ceramic tile, waterproof flooring and more.
The BEST and WORST Places to Buy New Carpet? You need to buy from an honest and reputable carpet dealer!
With over 30-years of hands-on experience in the Carpet business, I’ve learned that some Carpet Retailers are more reputable than others, and some carpet sellers should be avoided at all costs! See which carpet stores I recommend and where you can get your absolute best deal on new carpet and flooring near you.
Here’s How I Rate Carpet Retailers On a Scale of One to Five…
#8 Nationally Advertised or BIG-BOX Carpet Retailers
1.5 Stars out of 5
These corporately-owned businesses blanket the airwaves with constant and repetitive TV commercials, radio ads, billboards and bus stops! They have locations all over the country. They offer unbelievable deals on new carpet and flooring, including low-cost or free carpet installation.
I don’t recommend buying carpet from Home improvement warehouses like Lowe’s and Home Depot because they only sell the materials to you. They make arrangements with various independent contractors to handle the in-home measuring and installation. They take their profit right off the top and never have to worry about dealing with any problems or complaints you may have after the sale.
“Should you have a carpet defect or installation issue, they may just tell you to contact the carpet manufacturer directly or call the installation company to seek a remedy.”
Many local carpet stores have rolls of carpet in-stock and ready for immediate installation.
If you want to do-it-all-yourself and save a lot of money… create a detailed diagram of your home with all the room measurements and bring your truck, some rope and maybe a tarp if it is raining! These local dealers offer low prices and have dozens of rolls of carpet “in-stock”. They cater mostly to homeowners on a tight budget, landlords and property managers and D.I.Y. homeowners. They have plenty of inexpensive, lower-quality, defective or second-grade materials. Have them roll out the carpet before you agree to buy it to make sure there are no obvious defects. Check their guarantee carefully and get everything in writing before you sign on the dotted line. Once you buy it, you own it. no refunds.
The main problem when buying carpet from this type of retailer, is that they rarely have the same type, style or color of carpet available. That means if you need to buy more of the exact same carpet you bought today, it may not be available for you to buy tomorrow. Once a roll of carpet is sold, the same type, style and dye lot (color) may be gone forever. No two rolls of carpet are exactly the same. There will be differences in color or style that may be quite obvious once it is installed.
These dealers may offer in-house installation or they might just hand you a list of local installers for you to call and hire on your own. If you have to arrange for your own installation you must negotiate with the installer and pay them directly. In the end, if you pay just $8.99 per yard for the carpet, don’t expect it to last for 10 years. Even though you may get a great deal on discounted carpets, always remember that there was some reason why it was not able to be sold as first-quality goods. See which carpet stores I recommend near you
#6 Buying Carpet from a Carpet Layer
2.5 stars out of 5
Most carpet installers have piles of leftover carpet in their garage.
Some carpet layers have longstanding relationships with local carpet dealers, or may have a way to order new carpet and padding at near wholesale prices from local suppliers. Carpet layers often end up with sizable leftovers from bigger carpet jobs because carpet so many salespeople over-measure their jobs.
When there is a lot of carpet leftover the installer may take it home and try to sell it on Craigslist or in your local newspaper. If you find an installer who has some leftover carpet or other flooring materials available at a very low price, you need to understand that they have a limited supply of those materials and have no way of getting any more of the exact same color or style. There is no manufacturer’s warranty on these materials whatsoever and no recourse if you end up unhappy with the performance.
Still, you can find some real bargains this way. As with any contractor you hire to do work on your property, I suggest you check references, verify their contractors license and business liability insurance to make sure they are all current and up-to-date. This might be an inexpensive way to go if you are just doing one or two rooms or if you need to replace carpet or flooring for a rental property.
#5 Franchised Carpet Resellers
2.5 Stars out of 5
These carpet dealers are often locally-owned but are hooked up with a national carpet distributor or co-op to increase their buying power and decrease their shipping costs. They usually use private labels to prevent you from comparison shopping at other carpet local stores. It is often much more difficult to get carpet specifications from these resellers, and it makes it much more difficult to comparison shop their products. Even so, you can still negotiate a fair deal if you know what you are doing and don’t rely on their salespeople to make choices for you.
Many co-ops do not provide installation so you may have to locate a good installation crew and pay them separately. You will have to work a bit harder to schedule and orchestrate everything, and may end up paying a little more buying from a franchised flooring dealer. but they usually have a list of local installers for you to call and they do offer a wide range of quality carpet and flooring products. Which carpet stores do you recommend near me?
#4 800-Carpet Wholesalers
2.5 Stars out of 5
These are carpet and flooring peddlers who will send you small carpet samples through the mail. They want you to buy their carpet virtually “sight unseen” (other than a small swatch) There are no refunds on discounted carpets so you really have to be fully aware of all the fine print. You can save money if you buy from a reputable carpet wholesaler as long as you know exactly what you are buying and fully understand how the entire carpet buying process works and what is expected of you, especially regarding the delivery of the carpet and what you are required to do if you need to return a roll of carpet.
Some 1-800 carpet outlets stores are reputable and some are not. The burden of being knowledgeable about your purchase falls solely upon you. Can I really buy new carpet at wholesale prices?
#3 Online Flooring Retailers
3 stars out of 5
Need Hardwoods, Ceramic Tile, Luxury Tile or Laminate Flooring? These online companies move a lot of product and can be a smart way to go if you are careful and do your homework. The biggest problem I hear about is the poor quality of the materials they offer. For example: If you buy hardwood flooring that is considered “Seconds” (cabin-grade?) it can be very difficult to install and the amount of warped, unusable or damaged product you receive can be significant and have as much as 25% waste or more.
Buying first-quality hardwoods is much more costly but the outcome is much better than if you buy a “cabin grade” product. It’s hard to know how much material to order when you have no Idea about the amount of unusable product they will be sending you. It can be a real nightmare when you have to re-order more materials because you did not have enough to finish the job due to the amount of unforeseen waste.
You can save money buying from an online flooring wholesaler as long as you know exactly what quality or grade of carpet you are buying and know in advance exactly how the entire buying process works from start to finish. Even so, you are taking your chances because you must trust what the salesperson tell you, of fails to tell you. Shipping costs can be high too and if you are not happy with the product you order you may have to pay dearly to ship it back and also pay a hefty re-stocking fee.
Some online flooring retailers are reputable and some are not, and knowing who to trust is the hard part. Even if you succeed in buying a good quality flooring at a discount, you still have to arrange for your own installation or install it yourself if you are so inclined. I highly suggest you read all their fine print and ask to see their return policy and restocking fees.
#2 Shop-at-Home Carpet Retailers
4.5 Stars out of 5
It’s great to be able to shop-at-home for new carpet. It’s fun, easy and it saves time too.
Many people love the convenience of not having to travel from store to store in search of the perfect type, color and style of carpet or flooring and prefer having samples brought to their home. It makes matching colors easier in your own home under the optimum lighting scenario.
Many locally-owned carpet dealers are now offering shop-at-home services and this can a smart way to go for those who don’t want to drive all around town and deal with conflicting and confusing salespeople.
There are a few nationally advertised shop-at-home flooring dealers that I do not recommend, like Empire Today, because they tend to push carpets made of polyester, have unreasonably high prices and use independent high-pressure salespeople. However, I believe that “in-home carpet shopping” is a wonderful service, especially for folks who have a hard time getting around.
There are many reputable shop-at-home carpet stores that offer quality products, have knowledgeable salespeople and reasonable prices. The shop-at-home for carpet concept is getting bigger and bigger!
Currently, I have many reputable shop-at-home carpet dealers listed in my Preferred Carpet Dealer Directory that I am happy to recommend, including The Carpet Guys who serve the metro Detroit Michigan area.
With a few remnants stood up along the back wall, some in-stock rolls of carpet on display, a neat and tidy showroom and a good selection of brand name carpet samples to choose from. These long-standing neighborhood carpet and flooring retailers buy first-quality goods directly from the carpet manufacturer, provide excellent customer service, have fair & square pricing, have knowledgeable and helpful staff and provide qualified installers. Should you ever have a problem or complaint they will do whatever it takes to ensure you are completely satisfied with your purchase.
Creative Floors in Orlando Florida is a locally-owned, family operated carpet store.
Not all locally owned flooring dealers are honest and reputable. Over the past few years I have compiled my own “hand-picked” list of reputable locally-owned Carpet Dealers that I am proud to recommend to my readers. The dealers I recommend have passed my own set of strict rules and requirements before I list them in my directory. Where to buy new carpet and flooring? Which carpet stores are recommended near me?
It’s hard to find an honest and reputable carpet store these days! That’s why I created my own special hand-picked list of locally-owned carpet and flooring stores. They give free estimates, offer fair prices, have knowledgeable staff, provide honest measuring and use qualified installers.Are there any recommended Carpet Stores Near Me?
Most homeowners quickly discover that selecting new carpet is difficult, time consuming and confusing. this website was created to help homeowners sort through all the nonsense and confusion.
If you don’t do your carpet homework, it is easy to make costly mistakes and end up unhappy with the performance of your new carpet.
Making wise choices requires that you do your carpet homework before you begin shopping for new carpet.
What Is Berber Carpet?
Berber carpet has been around for a long time and was originally handmade by the Berber tribe of North Africa.
In fact, Berber carpet is still hand-made today in some parts of Africa but it does not resemble the Berber Carpet styles you will find at your local carpet retailer.
Berber carpets became popular in America in the early 1980’s and has grown in popularity ever since! Homeowners today have many choices and options with Berber styles, colors and quality levels.
Here are some important facts and useful Berber carpet information to help you choose the right style of Berber Carpet for your home.
Berber Carpet Styles
Simple Loop Berber
Multi-color Loop Berber
Patterned Loop Berber
Cut and Loop Berber
Patterned Loop Berber
Patterned cut and Loop Berber
Cut Pile Berber (no loops) (aka California Berber)
Berber Loop Size Matters!
Like I said before, Berbers made with larger loops tend to mat down more quickly, so choosing a Berber with made with smaller loops may be a better choice and will resist matting better especially in heavy traffic applications.
Commercial quality Looped Berber styles usually have the smallest loops and carpets made from Olefin (polypropylene) and is a common choice for those who want a higher level of durability and less potential for matting or crushing of the pile over time.
In most commercial settings, carpet is mainly glued down to the floor without using any padding. This creates the most durable and longest lasting configuration. This is what you see in banks, airports, office buildings and other heavy traffic applications.
In a residential application, you can use a thin 1/4″ to 3/8″ padding to make the carpet softer to walk on, but the density rating must be at least 8 pounds.
Using a thicker pad, more than 3/8″is not recommended because it will significantly reduce the lifespan of the carpet and increase the potential for the carpet to develop waves and wrinkles.
Here is a Simple Looped Berber Carpet
These are large loops. Smaller loops make the carpet more durable and less prone to matting and crushing of the pile.
Looped Berber Carpet Styles
Loops can be easily snagged and pulled. If you have active kids or pets then a Looped Berber Style may not be a good choice for you.
Repairing snagged loops can be very costly. Some snags can run (like a pair of nylon stockings) causing major damage to your carpet that may not be repairable.
Active kids and pets are often the cause of snags to Looped Berber Styles.
Berber Loops tend to quickly bend over or “crush” in moderate to heavy-traffic applications. This is especially true with Berber carpets made of Olefin.
The larger the loops are, the more prone they are to matting and crushing. Basically the loops just fall over and never stand upright again, no matter what you do.
Choosing a Berber with smaller loops will decrease the chances for matting and crushing.
Choosing a Berber carpet made from a Nylon fiber will reduce the chances of matting and crushing of the pile significantly.
Cost to Install Berber Carpet
Berber carpet is much more difficult to install than regular carpet styles. Berber is a heavy carpet and is much more difficult to handle, seam and cut.
Most installers charge at least $1-2 extra per square yard for installing Berber carpet and also charge a higher price for installing Berber on stairs. Learn more about Carpet Installation Cost
What is the Best Padding for Berber Carpet?
All Berber carpet styles require a high density padding and a lower thickness than other non-Berber carpet styles. In most cases, a minimum of 8-pound density and a thickness of no more than 3/8” is required.
Check with the carpet manufacturer to make sure you select the correct padding specifications. Using the wrong padding can void your carpet warranty and may cause your carpet to wear out prematurely.
This style of carpet has very tightly twisted tufts, usually rated at 6 twists or more, which is why it is well known as a more durable carpet style.
The tufts are not straight like a plush style, rather they are crooked, or wiggly in appearance.
Frieze styles when made from Nylon, are often used in moderate to heavy traffic applications because its higher tuft twist rating make it more durable than most plush carpet styles.
Many homeowners like a Frieze because it provides reduced footprint and vacuum marks.
You’ll likely have to pay more for a Nylon Frieze as they are generally more expensive than plush styles.
Frieze Pricing (Made of Nylon Fiber)
Prices for a basic Frieze style start at about $3.34 per square foot ($30 per square yard) and go up from there.
The cost for a quality padding and proper installation will be extra. You should be able to get a package deal for carpet, pad and installation for about $5.00 per square foot.
All Frieze styles have a unique and elegant appearance and would be a great choice for any home.
Based on the number of twists per lineal inch of tuft.
This Tuft has 7 twists and is a sign of a well-made carpet. Frieze styles have tufts similar to this and cost about $30 per square yard on average, or $3.33 per square foot. Pad and install not included.
This Tuft has 4 twists and is not nearly as durable. This is a sign of a lower-grade carpet.
Inexpensive Plush and Textured Plush styles often have tufts similar to this and range from $10 to $20 per square yard or $1.11 to $2.22 per square foot. Pad and install not included. More expensive styles have higher Tuft-Twist ratings.
Carpets with a lower Tuft Twist Rating (of 3 to 5), tend to untwist or “blossom” at the tuft tips more quickly, thus creating a worn out, frizzy looking or matted down appearance.
Carpet rarely wears out from the loss of fiber, they just start to mat down; gradually lose the luster and shine; and just start to look ugly.
Once the tufts have blossomed or become matted down, the damage cannot be reversed or repaired.
If you can… Keep the original carpet sample you selected and ordered from, until after your new carpet has been installed, use for comparison purposes.
Many homeowners often forget exactly which carpet style and color they ordered, especially when it takes several weeks for the carpet to be delivered and scheduled to be installed.
This is not always possible when dealing with smaller retailers. They may not be able to leave the carpet sample with you for an extended period of time.
If you are unable to retain the carpet sample, then make sure you write down the brand, style number and color number for future reference.
Take a photo of the back of the carpet sample showing all the manufacturing details.
Ask These Key Carpet Buying Questions… Before you sign off for new carpet!
You always have the right to know the name of everyone who is working in your home.
Write down the full name and phone number of the installer.
Ask for his State Issued Contractor’s License Number (if required in your State)
Ask to provide a Surety Bond and Business Liability Insurance. Confirm it!
If your Carpet Dealer is providing carpet installation services for you, as part of a package deal, your Carpet dealer is responsible to make sure the installer they provide is qualified and has all his legal and licensing affairs in order.
Before the installers arrive
Have furniture, wall pictures and knick-knacks removed from rooms to be carpeted.
Make sure all valuables are put away safe and secure.
When the installers arrive at your home
Check the carpet brand, color and style to make sure it is exactly what you ordered.
Cold carpet is more difficult to install. Have all rooms to be carpeted pre-heated to 70 degrees, 3 hours before and all during the installation process. This helps make sure the carpet can be stretched properly.
Carpet installation tools are razor sharp. Make sure kids and pets are safely out of the way in all areas to be carpeted. Never allow children or pets to roam free during installation.
What to do “After The Carpet Is installed”
Do a walk-around with the installer and inspect the carpet thoroughly. Make sure to inspect all the carpet seams.
Make sure all your questions and concerns are addressed before the installer leaves your home.
Read Your New Carpet Warranty
Obtain a copy of the New Carpet Warranty and Read it.
Do not make the final payment until you are completely satisfied with the completed job.
New Carpet Care and Maintenance
Read the manufacturer’s Carpet Warranty and follow all suggestions and requirements.
Vacuum your carpet regularly. Spot clean as necessary.
Never use bleach on your carpet unless it is recommended in your new carpet warranty.
Consider Buying a New Carpet Vacuum
Visit my Best Vacuums page to learn more. Keep all receipts for professional carpet cleanings, as they are required as proof of proper maintenance if you ever need to file a Carpet Warranty claim.
Always hire a professional certified carpet cleaning company.
Never use a store-rented carpet cleaning machine to clean your carpets while under warranty.
I buy plenty of items from home improvement stores like home Depot and Lowe’s and I shop every week at Costco. They have a good selection and some good deals on many household items I need. However, I would never buy new carpet or flooring from any of these large retailers.
Choosing new carpet is way more important than buying a double sized box of Cheerios or a freshly cooked Rotisserie Chicken from Costco, or a hammer and box of nails from Lowe’s or a wheel barrow from Home Depot.
Selecting new carpet is a personal adventure to enhance your lifestyle. It’s also a major purchase that can increase your home’s resale value if you choose wisely. Not to mention the years of enjoyment you get from having a beautiful home to share with friends and family. You need to buy from knowledgeable carpet experts who can answer all your questions, provide accurate measures, a reasonable cost and make sure your job is done right from start to finish.
Don’t be tempted. Have you seen those TV advertisements offering $99 Carpet Installation or Free Carpet installation? Maybe you are wondering who has the lowest prices? Empire Today Prices vs Home Depot carpet prices… Well, the Carpet Professor website has all the answers you need to help you find the best place to shop and buy new carpet near me and you. Don’t take chances buying carpet from giant conglomerates who farm out all their services to other companies. Buy Local! Recommended Carpet Stores Near Me?
Homeowners often make simple but costly mistakes.
It is extremely important that you select the right flooring materials for your project. Aside from the cost, choosing the right grade or quality level is challenging enough and your selection should not be left to chance.
When shopping for new carpet or flooring, having a knowledgeable and experienced salesperson readily available to answer your product questions and installation concerns is more than important. The problem is, you don’t get that level of service when you shop for new carpet and flooring at warehouse stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s or Costco.
Too many unsuspecting homeowners make simple but costly mistakes that are easily avoided. Shopping at a reputable, locally-owned flooring store is how to choose wisely and avoid installation problems.
New Carpet From Lowe’s or Home Depot?
Many nationally advertised Carpet retailers use OTHER privately held companies to handle their carpet sales, carpet measuring or carpet installation services. You never know who you are really dealing with.
That means if you ever have a carpet problem or complaint, you may have a hard time knowing who to call, finding anyone to answer your calls and locate the right company responsible for making things right. Recommended Carpet Stores Near Me?
Should I buy Carpet From Lowe’s or Home Depot? What about Empire Today or Costco?
Did You Know…
Home Depot, Lowe’s and Costco contract out all their measuring and installation services to various privately-held companies.
Empire Today REQUIRES all their salespeople to form their own CORPORATION so they will be Independent Sales Contractors
Lowe’s and Home Depot offer free basic carpet installation if you meet certain purchase requirements. Anything your job requires beyond their limited definition of a “basic install” will incur additional hefty charges and fees.
Costco members can grab a brochure with a number to call to start the in-home Carpet Consultation Process – provided by another privately-held company. Costco is just a referral program and take their share of the profit right off the top of your carpet purchase.
What does this all mean to YOU the homeowner? With so many fingers in the pie it is not too hard to figure out that you might end up paying way too much for your new carpet if you buy from a nationally advertised company.. Recommended Carpet Stores Near Me?
Carpet Sales from Lowe’s, Home Depot or Empire?
These nationally advertised conglomerates take a large chunk of the profit right off the top. Then let other privately held companies and independent sales contractors each have a shot at making more money from your new carpet purchase.
From costly measuring fees to needless carpet and padding upgrades, from carpet and padding removal and disposal fees to extra unnecessary and costly installation add-ons. There are plenty of ways they will try to make you fork out more money before it’s all said and done.
The Lure of a Great Sounding Deal…
Get Three Rooms for the Price of One!
Get 60% OFF New Carpet
Free Basic Installation!
Free Padding!
Low Price Guarantee!
Do these advertising sales gimmicks sound familiar? Get out your magnifying glass so you can read all their fine print regarding these unrealistic sales tricks and gimmicks.
Carpet Installation from Lowes
Their advertised free carpet installation deals are designed to attract unsuspecting homeowners who would like to save money on new carpet and flooring but don’t know how to go about doing it.
Both Lowe’s and Home Depot have been trying to lure-in unsuspecting homeowners for years by offering low-cost or free “basic” carpet installation.
They make up a portion of this sales gimmick by charging more for the carpet and padding and by greatly increasing the added cost for anything extra you might need to complete the job.
Lowe’s Carpet Installation Free?
Lowe’s offers free carpet installation if you spend enough on new carpet and padding. Then they add on extra fees and charges for anything and everything that is beyond their limited definition of a “basic” installation. Their limited definition of a “basic install” seems to vary from time to time so their free install offer is always subject to change.
Their so-called “free” carpet installation that lures many homeowners in, may not be totally free once their farmed-out measuring estimators and sub-contracted installers get a good look at your home and discover what extras are needed to complete your project. Don’t be surprised if there are numerous extra fees & charges tacked-on.
Lowes Carpet Installation Extra Charges?
Lowe’s and Home Depot require that you pay for the entire carpet job IN FULL before they will place your carpet or flooring order. But that doesn’t include any unforeseen costs, add-ons, and extra fees and charges.
Your final bill comes on the day of installation when the carpet installer determines that your job requires additional labor for various things like moving heavy furniture, special transitions, floor prep, repairs and extra material and labor fees.
You never know what problems they might uncover after removing your old carpet and padding. I’ve seen a lot of dry rot and other forms of sub-floor damage lurking underneath old carpets.
There are hefty charges tacked on for anything considered beyond their current limited definition of a “Basic” carpet installation. They have to recoup the cost of free installation somehow.
Carpet From Lowe’s or Home Depot? These extra fees and charges can easily add up to hundreds that you were not forewarned about. That is, unless you took the time to read all their fine print.
Home Depot’s Low-Price Guarantee?
They say they will beat any competitor’s price by 10%, but according to their fine print, that’s only on identical in-stock items. That makes it virtually impossible for anyone to substantiate because they put private labels on all their carpet samples.
Sneaky Carpet Sales Tactics
The Big Box home improvement warehouses have been charging homeowners a measuring fee just for coming to your home and sizing you up. The fee may be refundable if you agree to buy from them.
This is designed to add more sales pressure on you. They want to prevent you from shopping for carpet at other local stores. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you think that if you don’t buy carpet from them, you will be forfeiting the $75 to $125 measuring fee have already paid.
Accurate Carpet Measuring?
From what I have been told by industry insiders, their licensed & certified measuring specialists they contract with, are required to measure your home using a “special method”.
Does that mean they add another 5, 10 or 15% of material to the total? Likely so! They are not going to tell you how many square feet your home needs. When they are all done measuring they leave to do all the calculations back at the office.
Carpet Measuring From Lowe’s or Home Depot?
You will never know if their measurements are accurate. Even if you get several bids / estimates from other local carpet dealers. Why? Because they don’t give you anything you can use to verify their measuring. You will just get an estimate based on “one-price” to do the whole job.
Basically, they want to make darn sure there is more than enough carpet or flooring material to work with. That way, they never have to worry about running short of material during installation.
That might translate into you paying for a lot more for new carpet & pad then you might actually need. Just adding an extra 10 yards of material could easily add $300 or more to the total cost for your carpet job. Ouch!
Empire Strikes Back?
Empire Today likes to attract customers by airing repetitive TV ads featuring unbelievable sales offers with next day installation. If you call their 800 number, they will send a salesperson to your home who will show you flooring samples and try to “close the sale” in just one visit. Questions you need answers to are:
Am I getting a fair & square deal on the total package deal?
What is the price for the carpet. padding and installation separately?
How long will this carpet last in your home?
What fiber is this carpet made of?
Are they selling you a Polyester carpet and say it’s just as durable as a Nylon Carpet?
These are just a few questions that you need solid answers to before you should commit yourself to buying from any shop-at-home flooring retailer.
What are Private Labels?
They intentionally change the names of all their carpet styles and colors to make it nearly impossible for you to comparison shop. The exact same carpet might cost a lot less at the local carpet store down the street, but with different names how would you know? You would have to lay out carpet samples from both stores side by side to compare.
Lots of carpet retailers use private labels on their samples. It’s almost the norm these days. Home Depot’s low-price guarantee sure sounds good until you read all their fine print. Can you say the word “exclusions”? What do I suggest? Homeowners need to avoid unscrupulous carpet retailers and only buy from locally owned, honest and reliable carpet stores.
Private Labels Make It Hard To Comparison Shop
All these giant retailers all use private labels on their carpet samples. Most farm out the measuring and installation of their products to other privately help companies. Some even have other companies do all the selling too. What does this mean to you?
If you have a complaint, you may have to deal directly with the independent contractors to seek a remedy.
Have a Carpet defect? You’ll have to contact the carpet manufacturer and have them inspect your carpet.
Have an installation problem? You’ll have to contact the carpet installer. No one likes getting called back to deal with a homeowner complaint.
If you can’t get a suitable remedy for your issue, you may have to file a claim in small claims court. The problem is, who is actually responsible for making things right and how can you prove that in court?
Costco Executive Members?
Costco members were once shown a small display with miniature carpet samples. Lately they have been taking their displays with samples down. Executive members are offered some extra benefits that may be of interest to some folks. Like a longer warranty?
If you grab their free brochure you will be provided with a phone number to call to start your in-home Carpet Consultation Process. Be sure to read all the fine print very carefully to see what added benefits you might qualify for, if any.
“An independent flooring consultant will bring samples to your home and be happy to write up your order and arrange for installation.”
While they do carry some good quality carpet, be prepared for sticker shock when you see what the total cost will be. Again, you can’t comparison shop easily because they change the carpet style names and colors to thwart you.
To compare carpets, you would need to take their carpet samples with you into other nearby carpet stores and compare both identical samples side by side. It’s definitely not easy to do. They know you probably won’t take the time and trouble to do this, and it is unlikely that they would be willing to leave their carpet samples with you anyway.
You seen those TV advertisements offering $99 Carpet Installation and Free Carpet installation?Maybe you were wondering who had the lowest prices? Empire Today Prices vs Home Depot carpet prices… The Carpet Professor has revealed where to find the best carpet store to buy carpet and flooring near me and you.
Not all carpet dealers are honest and reputable. If you are in the market for new carpet or flooring of any kind, I think you should consider getting a free estimate from one of the carpet stores that I have listed in my Preferred Carpet Dealer Directory.
It’s taken me years to locate, investigate and identify these locally owned and family-run businesses. I suggest you visit several flooring retailers near you, get several free estimates and be sure visit a carpet store that I recommend if you can.
Decide for Yourself Where to Buy New Carpet
When it’s all said and done, I think you will agree that my preferred carpet dealers are knowledgeable, reliable and reputable! You’ll be treated with respect, get a fair & square deal and get great customer service… Before, during and after the sale.
It’s hard to find an honest and reputable carpet store these days! That’s why I created my own special hand-picked list of locally-owned carpet and flooring stores. They give free estimates, offer fair prices, have knowledgeable staff, provide honest measuring and use qualified installers. Are there any recommended Carpet Stores Near Me?
Q. I need to purchase new carpet for my home. How do I choose wisely, but also get it done quickly & easily?
Welcome, I’m Alan Fletcher aka The Carpet Professor, a 30+ year carpet expert and consumer advocate. I’m retired now and don’t sell or install carpet anymore, but if you are in the market for new carpet or flooring, I’ve posted lots of free articles and provide handy tools and guides to help you make wise & informed choices.
The key to choosing new carpet wisely is to match your needs and goals with your level of foot-traffic. This puts you in control of how long your carpet lasts and how much you need to spend to accomplish all your goals.
Looking for the Best Deals? Honest & Reliable, Buy Local!
The Fast & Easy Way to Shop for Carpet?
1. First, take my free Carpet Foot Traffic Test. Do you have low, medium, moderate or heavy foot-traffic? Knowing this will determine what grade of carpet can tolerate your level of foot-traffic for the length of time you determine.
2. Use my Carpet Durability Guide to find and identify the grade of carpet your home requires. Ask your retailer to provide you with the specifications you need. Obtaining these specs is the only sure-fire way to know if a carpet is capable of meeting your needs and goals. Learn more about carpet manufacturing specifications.
3. Narrow down your choices with my free carpet shopping forms, guides & checklists. These handy resources are designed to save you time & money, make sure you ask all the right questions, and help you locate the best carpet choice for your home.
4. Where to Buy Carpet? You need to purchase from a retailer who provides you with the best price, best service and best selection. You may be tempted to buy from nationally-advertised corporate entities like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Costco or Empire, but I hope you avoid these companies and purchase from a locally-owned retailer instead. I’ve built a special hand-picked list of local carpet stores for you to consider. Check out my special handpicked list of preferred flooring dealers. Buy Local!
How To Choose New Carpet?
As you will soon discover when you begin shopping for new carpet for your home, office or rental, choosing the right carpet can be quite challenging, confusing and complicated, not to mention costly!
If you choose the wrong carpet type, style or grade you stand to waste a lot of money and/or end up with a carpet that does not perform nearly as well as you might have hoped.
In many cases, brand new carpet will mat down so fast that it will look worn out in a very short period of time, often in just a year or two. This is what happens when the wrong grade of carpet is selected.
How To Select the Right Grade of Carpet?
Some carpets are designed for low foot-traffic applications. They cost less because they are made with lower quality materials. A low grade of carpet would be a bad choice for a household with active kids and pets.
As a retired carpet expert, I know how important it is for homeowners to take the time to learn how to select the right grade of carpet. A grade of carpet that is designed and built to meet their unique needs and goals. Do you know enough about Carpet Specifications to choose wisely?
What are your needs and goals? Answer these questions; How long do you want your new carpet to last? 5, 10 or 15 years? What is your level of foot-traffic? Low, medium or heavy? Take my free Carpet Foot-Traffic Testto reveal your F/T score.
I created CarpetProfessor.com to help educate homeowners how to choose new carpet wisely; how to avoid common retail carpet scams; and how to properly maintain new carpet. Insider Secrets to Choosing New Carpet Wisely? This a free service I provide with no strings attached. You also have free access to all myfree carpet shopping forms, coupons and checklists.
It’s getting harder to find honest and reputable carpet stores! That’s why I created my own special hand-picked list of locally-owned carpet and flooring stores. They provide free estimates, fair & square pricing, have knowledgeable staff, provide honest measuring and use qualified installers. Are there any reputableCarpet Stores Near Me?
As a Consumer Advocate and 30-year veteran of the carpet business, I know how difficult it is to choose new carpet wisely and get a fair & square deal. That’s why I personally hand-pick each one of my Recommended Carpet Stores in Vermont using my own special set of strict business standards and requirements.
My Recommended Carpet Stores in Vermont
(Select Your Nearest City Below)
Burlington
New England Floor Covering 257 Pine Street Burlington, VT 05401 (802) 658-9336Map
Essex
Main Street Floorcovering 95 Pearl Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 348-2250Map
What Makes Your Preferred Dealers Special?
Inclusion in my directory is strictly by invitation only. No carpet or flooring retailer can buy their way onto my preferred dealer list at any price. I make no money from your carpet or flooring purchase no matter who you choose to buy from, I do however receive revenue from ads placed on various places on my website.
Don’t Want to Drive All Around Town?
Many of my preferred carpet dealers provide a free shop-at-home service. You just need to call and set up a convenient time to have them bring samples to your home for you to consider. There is no obligation to buy.
Not Just Carpet… Carpet and Flooring!
My Recommended Carpet Stores in Vermont? I use the term “Carpet Stores” but all my preferred carpet dealers also carry a full line of popular flooring products including hardwoods, luxury vinyl tile, sheet vinyl, ceramic tile, waterproof flooring and more.
I’ve learned a few things after 30 years in the Carpet business. I know how difficult it is to choose new carpet wisely and get a fair & square deal. That’s why I personally hand-pick each one of my recommended carpet stores in Florida using my own special set of strict business standards, rules and requirements.
My Recommended Carpet and Flooring Stores in Florida
(Select Your Nearest City Below)
Boca Raton
The Carpet Connection 1000 Clint Moore Rd, Ste 102 Boca Raton, FL 33487 (561) 998-8080Map
Angela’s Bennington Carpet 23074 Sandalfoot Plaza Dr Boca Raton, FL 33428 (561) 488-1333Map
Bradenton
Carpet Depot 6823 14th Street W. Bradenton, FL 34207 (941) 444-0023Map
Cape Coral
Naples Floor Coverings 52 Tenth Street S. Naples, Florida 34102 (239) 262-6561Map
I Don’t See A Carpet Store Near Me! Get a Free Carpet Store Referral from The Carpet Professor!
Just fill out my simple form and I will go to work to locate the best places to buy new carpet and flooring near you. It’s quick, easy and it’s a free service! Don’t take chances…
It’s designed to help you to save time, choose wisely and narrow down your best choices.
(click on Image to view or print)
What Makes Your Preferred Dealers Special?
It is my goal to help you choose new carpet wisely, get a fair and square deal and have your carpet installed correctly. I make no money from your carpet purchase no matter who you choose to buy from.
Inclusion in my directory is by invitation only. No carpet or flooring retailer can buy their way onto my preferred dealer list at any price. I only recommend locally-owned carpet retailers who meet all my strict rules and requirements for inclusion.
Don’t Want To Drive All Over Town?
Many of my preferred carpet dealers provide a free shop-at-home service. You just need to call and set up a convenient time to have them bring samples to your home for you to consider. Of course, there is no obligation to buy.
Not Just Carpet… Carpet and Flooring!
My Recommended Carpet Stores in Florida? I use the term “Carpet Stores” but my recommended carpet stores also carry a full line of popular flooring products including hardwoods, luxury vinyl tile, sheet vinyl, ceramic tile, waterproof flooring and more.
As a Consumer Advocate and 30-year veteran of the carpet business, I know how difficult it is to choose new carpet wisely and get a fair & square deal. That’s why I personally hand-pick each one of my Recommended Carpet Stores in South Dakota using my own special set of strict business standards and requirements.
My Recommended Carpet Store in South Dakota
Sioux Falls
Simple Floors
3400 S Sheldon Lane
Sioux Falls, SD 57105 (605) 553-9077Map
What Makes Your Preferred Dealers Special?
Inclusion in my directory is strictly by invitation only. No carpet or flooring retailer can buy their way onto my preferred dealer list at any price. I make no money from your carpet or flooring purchase no matter who you choose to buy from, I do however receive revenue from ads placed on various places on my website.
Don’t Want to Drive All Around Town?
Many of my preferred carpet dealers provide a free shop-at-home service. You just need to call and set up a convenient time to have them bring samples to your home for you to consider. There is no obligation to buy.
Not Just Carpet… Carpet and Flooring!
My Recommended Carpet Stores in South Dakota? I use the term “Carpet Stores” but all my preferred carpet dealers also carry a full line of popular flooring products including hardwoods, luxury vinyl tile, sheet vinyl, ceramic tile, waterproof flooring and more.
As a Consumer Advocate and 30-year veteran of the carpet business, I know how difficult it is to choose new carpet wisely and get a fair & square deal. That’s why I personally hand-pick each one of my Recommended Carpet Stores in Rhode Island using my own special set of strict business standards and requirements.
My Recommended Carpet Stores in Rhode Island
(Select Your Nearest City Below)
Providence
Domenic & Sons Floorcovering 255 Greenville Ave. Johnston, RI 02919 (401) 231-1885Map
Massud & Sons Floorcovering 772 Dexter St. Central Falls, RI 02863 (401) 400-8121Map
What Makes Your Preferred Dealers Special?
Inclusion in my directory is strictly by invitation only. No carpet or flooring retailer can buy their way onto my preferred dealer list at any price. I make no money from your carpet or flooring purchase no matter who you choose to buy from, I do however receive revenue from ads placed on various places on my website.
Don’t Want to Drive All Around Town?
Many of my preferred carpet dealers provide a free shop-at-home service. You just need to call and set up a convenient time to have them bring samples to your home for you to consider. There is no obligation to buy.
Not Just Carpet… Carpet and Flooring!
My Recommended Carpet Stores in Rhode Island? I use the term “Carpet Stores” but all my preferred carpet dealers also carry a full line of popular flooring products including hardwoods, luxury vinyl tile, sheet vinyl, ceramic tile, waterproof flooring and more.
