Tag Archives: How to choose the right grade of carpet

Carpet Defects Complaints and Bad Carpet Install

Carpet Complaints and Carpet Installation Problems are Common!

Note: Many of these Carpet problems could have been avoided had the homeowners done their “Carpet Homework” before they purchased new carpet. Visit my Table of Contents to see all my free carpet articles.

Defective Carpet

I have had my carpet for 11 months. After 3 or 4 months I noticed different shades in the carpet. I bought the best carpet. I put in a complaint 4 months ago. The warranty means nothing. In the living room half is one shade and the other half darker. I have big dark spots other places and in the bedroom circles of very light color. It looks like some one spilled something and tried to clean it.

Polyester Carpet

At first our new carpet was beautiful, but it didn’t take me long to realize that I didn’t like to walk on it barefoot. Also, it seemed to mat down very quickly. We have high traffic areas and steps since our home is a split-level and the carpet really started looking “old” and “worn” within the first 6 months. In a nutshell – I HATE this carpet! Carpet Fiber Choice vs Durability

Olefin Berber Carpet

I had a looped Berber carpet installed just a couple of years ago and already it looks dingy in the high traffic areas. I had it cleaned by Coit for the first time and now it seems to be worse not better. Is there anything I can do to make it look better? I know that the carpet isn’t that worn as there are only 2 adults here and we work 5 days a week so not much wear but on weekends and evenings, and most of the time shoe-less. Is Berber Carpet a Good Choice?

Bad Carpet Install / Low Quality Carpet

Hi Alan, I hope you can help me out before I’m stuck with my builder trying to tell me my carpet is supposed to look the way it does. We are having a new home built after being in a hurricane. They laid the new carpet in three bedrooms. They all have ripples in them and one room has the worst ripples. Could you please tell me why that is so I don’t look stupid when I argue the point with the builder? We are closing in a couple of weeks. Carpet Fiber Choice vs Durability

Staple Fiber, Not a Continuous Filament

I recently had new carpeting installed. It is suppose to be nylon. The issue I have is every time I vacuum it I wind up with a ton of what I call carpet fluff in the vacuum. Is this typical? Or is this just cheap carpeting. Why Do Some Carpets Shed and Fuzz?

Bad Carpet Installation / Olefin Carpet

The carpet we have was not installed correctly and we have rolls (wrinkles) and highly visible seams. The carpet has been professionally cleaned, but the tech said that he was not able to remove the stains because the carpet was so badly rolling and loose. It looked like he did a good job at first, but the stains reappeared after a short time. Carpet Fiber Choice vs Durability

Staple Fiber, Not a Continuous Filament

We have just moved into a new construction that has Mohawk Somerset installed. It’s been 45 days of hell. The rug sheds continuously. We have contacted the Mohawk rep and he said that this might continue for up to a year. Meanwhile we are sneezing, itching and inhaling these fibers into our system. We are very dissatisfied with this carpet and it is throughout our house. We have a two year old son who is always playing on the floor. It is causing some real problems for us. We have spoken with our neighbors who have the same carpet and they said the same thing. Why Do Some Carpets Shed and Fuzz?

Low Quality Carpet

I just had carpet installed a week ago. It is a textured cut pile manufactured from Camelot Carpet Mills. I kept several extra pieces. One of the pieces had some water spilled on it and I noticed after an hour or so later that the primary and secondary backing had separated. What does this mean? Carpet Specifications Explained

Improper Carpet Installation

We purchased a Mohawk “soft back” carpet and within a year experienced tremendous rippling. We had it re-stretched and a year later the rippling is back worse than ever. The manufacturer claims the installation is to blame rather than the carpet. Top 10 Causes for Carpet Wrinkles

Wrong Carpet Padding / Poor Carpet Installation

We have a new two year old home and we thought we got good carpeting and most of all a good depth of padding. They put in Stainmaster Carpet. We have begun to have ‘ripples’ in the carpeting! What in the world causes this? We are just two senior citizens living here and don’t have much company at all. Where we first began to notice the ripples is in a room which is hardly used – other than to walk through, clean and sit to read a newspaper. Top 10 Causes for Carpet Wrinkles

Carpet Manufacturing Variance

I purchased a plush carpet for a living room, dining room, stairs and a hallway. My concern is the sample I based my decision on is different than the laid carpet. The laid carpet feels softer than the sample but it seems to show more foot traffic.

Polyester Carpet

Our home is 2 years old and is a spec house in which the builder used all cheap flooring, appliances, fixtures etc. Most of our house has plush carpet that is stained, worn down and worn out. Carpet Fiber Choice vs Durability

Carpet Shading – Construction Defect

I recently had Mohawk carpet installed in my home. This is the problem. The insert piece in the living room and bedroom is a darker color than the main piece of carpet in each room which causes a stripe to appear down one side of each room. I’m perplexed because I had this exact same carpet installed in my previous home with no problems.

Carpet Construction Defect

We recently had some carpet installed and the carpet seems to have several “lines” developing across the pattern. The installer and manufacturer and an “independent” analyst have all insisted this is a normal “defect” in the carpet. Is this normal? The lines look like someone took a child’s wagon and wheeled it up and down the hallway.

Common Trait of Commercial Carpets. Not a Defect.

I recently had an expensive, high quality synthetic carpet over a jute and hair mat installed in my bedroom by a large company that specializes in carpets and caters only to designers. Now, when I walk across the room, the rug “crunches” ((has a squeaking sound) The carpet on the stairs was installed by a second person, and does not have the crunching sound. What is the problem? (carpet too loose???) and how can it be corrected?

Chose The Wrong Carpet Padding

I just recently had brand new carpet installed and it is literally acting funny. When you walk on it it has a strange crunchy/squeaky feel to it under your feet. It is everywhere you walk and every one feels it. Any ideas what this is? Choosing The Right Carpet Padding

Carpet Defect / Low Quality

We had Mohawk Horizon carpet installed in our basement. It has been stretched 2 times (including the initial installation). One section in the middle of the basement is rippling again. Could this be installation, carpet or some other issue? The basement is dry, so it is not moisture.

Carpet Defect

I had Beaulieu Hollytex carpets installed and there was a problem with a side match. They replaced it and still there was a problem with it. The next time we changed the color and the pieces matched, but now we have a line like a cut down the middle. I blame the manufacturer or mill for not inspecting it better.

Defective Carpet

I have a dilemma with our master bedroom wool carpet from Glen Eden Mills. Shortly after having the carpet installed, I noticed a sort of shading appear just inside the bedroom doorway. After vacuuming and getting on my hands and knees to see what could be wrong. The fibers were going in different directions making a sort of water line well into the room. After many calls and letters to Glen Eden, we received several articles on water marking or pooling from the manufacturer. None of us wanted to accept this bogus explanation, so I wrote a letter myself and asked that an independent carpet inspector come out and take a look. They finally sent an inspector out and he agreed that the excuse seemed bogus, but that he had to report what he saw and that it was ” water marking”. Glen Eden chose not to do anything for us. We had the carpet less than 9 months when I started the investigation and we spent $4000.00 on one room of carpet! (Not a huge room either.) I then wrote another letter, this time to the president of Glen Eden, hoping to appeal to his caring side. We have heard nothing in response and I imagine we never will. It has been at least four months since I wrote. What do you know about water marking and is there anything else you can think of for me to do?

Carpet Construction and Manufacturing Variances

We have already purchased and installed an Evans Black, Carpet One carpet. My husband and I don’t feel like it is the same one we chose – which I know now is a common scam.

Carpet Defect

We just had Nylon repeat-pattern carpet put in our family room. When you enter the room on the left as you view within 4 feet you see what I would think the carpet should look like but as your eyes move to the right it looks like someone has scattered sand across the carpet. It is something to do with the nap but I hate it. If you move to the right and look back then the pattern appears. Help ME!

Wrong Padding Choice

We are in the process of building a new home, and an option we chose was “Glacier Spill-Proof Carpet Padding”. Now that the carpet is in, when you walk around the house, it sounds like your walking on trash bags. Originally, I was told it was a defect in the padding where it was bunching up. They supposedly replaced the padding. Still does it. They have now supposedly “upgraded” it to the “BMW of spill-proof carpet pads”. Still does it. Now I am being told that again supposedly a rep from the factory came out, and deemed it a “characteristic” of the carpet pad due to the spill proof layer on top. Choosing The Right Carpet Padding

Chose Wrong Carpet Style / Olefin Berber Carpet

We purchased a soft Berber for our basement. It is the newest Mohawk Smartstrand carpet. 3 days after it was installed, we noticed there was already a loop pulled. Looks like 3 loops or more have already pulled up. We also found 3-4 areas where the loop looks to be separated/broken on the top. And, we found at least 2 areas where the top of a loop is separated but it appears almost to be tied. So, at the top the loop is separated but something has it together at the very top, and then the two frayed ends are sticking out from there.

Looped Berber Pulls that are hard to repair.

Active kids and pets are often the cause of snags to Looped Berber Styles.

My dealer came out and said the pulled area must have been from something catching on it, perhaps our dog, child or a box, or almost anything. Nothing they could do about that but repair it. The other areas where the loop is separated, he said well, that can happen. As for the loops that look tied, he said he has never seen that before. My question is: did we just pick the wrong carpet for our basement??? Does three days to 1 week sound unreasonable to be having so many problems already? And, what might our recourse be? Is Berber Carpet a Good Choice?

Bad Carpet Install / Improper Carpet Installation

We’ve lived in this rental home for 4 years, our carpet started wrinkling about a year after we moved in- the wrinkles were in carpet before I got it professionally cleaned. The carpet cleaner said the carpet was not installed properly. The property owner is saying the carpet cleaner ruined it, although wrinkles were there already. I’ve spoken to others and were told that carpet was not stretched properly at installation and needs to be re-stretched. Top 10 Causes for Carpet Wrinkles

Have Carpet Defects complaints and Bad Carpet Installations? This is why it is important to learn how to choose new carpet wisely and buy from a reputable carpet dealer. Where to buy new carpet? See who I recommend near you!

How To Buy New Carpet at Wholesale Prices

1 Reply

Secrets to Buying Carpet Wholesale in 2022

How to Choose, Where to Buy and What You Need to Avoid!

Here are the pros and cons you may encounter when you are looking to buy new Carpet at wholesale prices (or less) from various sources including online and warehouse carpet resellers.

Carpet resellers are mostly located in, around or near Dalton Georgia, the Carpet Manufacturing Capital of the World!

It’s really true that anyone can buy new carpet at near-wholesale prices and get up to 70% off New Carpet and flooring?

Yes you can buy carpet at wholesale prices. The trick is knowing how to do it without making costly mistakes.

Choosing new carpet may sound easy and risk-free when you visit websites that sell carpet direct.

But there are many dangers, risks, hazards and pitfalls that you need to know about, long before you consider embarking upon this potential money-saving carpet buying opportunity.

“If you don’t do your Carpet homework, you may end up very unhappy with your purchase and waste a lot of time & money.”

If you really want to save up to 70% off new carpet and are willing to invest the time and energy it requires to learn the tricks of the trade, then I can set you on your path to success.

But remember, buying carpet from a wholesale carpet outlet requires that you take the time to do your carpet homework!

Otherwise you will not save any time or any money! In fact, if you do it wrong it could cost you thousands.

As an expert in the field, I can teach you almost everything you need to know to avoid making common carpet buying mistakes and pitfalls.

You need to learn how to select the right carpet that can meet your needs, goals and lifestyle.

I can also reveal valuable tips, tricks and tidbits to negotiating your best carpet deal.

These carpet resellers are called by many different names but they all offer rolls of new carpet at deeply discounted prices.

Your job is to make sure you by the right carpet at the right price and have it installed properly.

I can help you achieve that goal. These are the main three types of carpet re-sellers.

Georgia Carpet and Flooring Wholesalers,
Online Flooring Discount Outlet Stores,
Dalton Discount Carpet and Flooring Warehouses

How To Buy New Carpet at Wholesale Prices?

There are plenty of good honest and reputable carpet wholesalers, but just as many not-so-good carpet wholesalers too.

But even if you buy from an honest and reputable wholesaler, you still need to know how to do it right or you won’t get the deal you hoped for.

Carpet wholesalers are not in the business to educate you, and they won’t tell you everything you need to know.

They are in the business to sell carpet, and they sell thousands of rolls of carpet every month.

These carpet resellers really do move tons of product daily and they are too busy to hold your hand every step of the way.

If you are not well informed, and know the ins and outs, you stand to lose thousands. Especially if you do not make wise and informed carpet choices.

You must be aware of the following:

Know how to choose the right carpet for your needs, goals, lifestyle and budget.
Be able to determine the level of Carpet Foot Traffic in your home. Low, medium, moderate or heavy?
Know exactly what type, grade and style of carpet you are buying, (including quality, full specifications, durability, warranty, fiber brand, fiber type, stain resistance, etc)
Know the complete, exact and full terms of the purchase contract, including return policies, shipping costs, your responsibilities and warranty provisions.
Avoid verbal promises. Every little detail must be written into the contract.
Know your consumer rights, restrictions and responsibilities.
Understand how the wholesale carpet business operates.
Understand their carpet delivery and return policies. Shipping, Restocking fees and added charges.
Understand the carpet installation process, the cost and independent contracting process.
What you must do to prepare in advance, should you ever have a warranty claim. (if there is any warranty coverage at all)

The key to savings is to be well-informed

Let me explain the potential benefits and common pitfalls that you might encounter when you buying carpet online from a Dalton Georgia Carpet outlet store.

You have a lot to gain, and you have a lot to lose. Product knowledge is power and I can help you be a winner.

Buying Carpet Wholesale

Ever see those annoying pop-ups, banner and display ads that are shouting “Buy Carpet Wholesale!” these type of ads are very common on carpet websites these days.

“Is it really true that you can buy new carpet at wholesale prices? The answer is yes, sort of. Well, maybe. It’s quite possible, let me explain…”

The truth is, buying carpet from an Online Source can be hazardous to your pocketbook if you don’t know what you are doing.

On the other hand, you stand to save a ton of money if you take the time to learn how to buy carpet wholesale “wisely”.

You need to understand how the carpet business works before you can make it work in your favor.

Buying Carpet Wholesale is NOT for Everyone

You need to be able to spend a lot of time talking to salespeople, investigating and researching, comparing prices and products.

Then there’s interviewing independent carpet installers and preparing your home for the final event of having your carpet installed.

It truly is a major event that requires making lots of phone calls, sending and receiving emails, ordering samples and keeping track of all the details.

Buying from a carpet wholesaler can be mind-boggling and it’s too much work for some people, and I don’t want you to think it will be a quick and easy task.

It takes time to work out all the small details, it could take weeks before you get the whole job done.

Don’t try to get everything done too fast or you could end up unhappy with the end results.

You don’t want to miss or overlook any small but important details. You surely do not want to find out after its too late. But you do want to save a ton of money, so take your time.

What is Discounted or Second-Grade Carpet?

Giant carpet manufacturers like Mohawk and Shaw make thousands of rolls of carpet every month.

They have strict manufacturing specifications they must adhere to.

If they make a roll of carpet that doesn’t pass their quality control, they will sell it as “seconds” to carpet retailers and wholesale carpet resellers.

What are Carpet Seconds?

Any carpet outlet store or retail carpet dealer can purchase “second grade” rolls of carpet at a significant discount from the carpet manufacturer.

These rolls of carpet all have something wrong with them.

It could be a color streaking problem or the dye was off-color from the original sample.

There could be missing tufts or other surface defects, or the backing could be defective.

You may never know why the manufacturer sold it as second-grade goods.

There could be multiple reasons why a particular roll of carpet will be marked as a second-grade carpet. These rolls are deemed defective for some reason and sold without any warranty from the manufacturer.

Discontinued Carpet Styles

Sometimes Carpet makers will discontinue a certain style or color and sell off all they have in stock to make room for a new style or color.

In this case, there may not be anything physically wrong with the carpet, other than the color, but the discounted price won’t be quite as attractive as those carpets with an obvious manufacturing defect.

The carpet manufacturer will offer these second-grade rolls of carpet to any carpet outlet store or retailer for what they feel it’s worth, and trust me, they know how to place an accurate value on a roll of carpet.

You can save a ton of money if you buy a carpet that has a limited defect, or is just an off color.

Bear in mind, there will be limited quantities of the carpet available.

Once it’s gone, it is gone forever. If you need more of the same carpet in the future, it may not be available.

Consumers cannot buy carpet directly from the carpet manufacturer, they must buy from an authorized store, carpet dealer, local distributor, online retailer or discount reseller.

Carpet Mills Won’t Sell Directly To You

You can’t just call the carpet manufacturer and order carpet directly. You must have a retail location and apply to open a business account.

How to Buy Carpet at a Discount

How To Buy Carpet Wholesale? Competition in the discount carpet business is fierce. So in order to compete for your business, wholesale carpet outlets advertise heavily in many ways. They also use the internet to attract customers from all over the world.

There are literally hundreds of carpet outlet and reseller stores in the state of Georgia, with huge billboards lined up all the way up and down the interstate highways.

They have detailed websites with photos descriptions of their products, detailed installation information.

They show customer testimonials, give free price quotes and everything else you might need to know about buying carpet or other flooring products from them.

These are fast-paced businesses that sell tons of discounted carpet and flooring materials every month.

Sounds good so far, right? Not so fast!

There are a few ground rules you need to be aware of before you start shopping for discounted carpet.

First, I never recommend buying carpet from any online source that does not have a physical location and a good reputation. This is verifiable through the local Better Business Bureau.

The Media Buzz: Who is getting all the attention?

Some Dalton Georgia carpet sellers are well-known from having national media attention, but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down.

Second, Don’t believe everything a carpet salesperson tells you. Not all salespeople are honest and not all salespeople are knowledgeable.

No matter what questions you might ask, a salesperson might just tell you what you want to hear.

Just because they work for a carpet retailer doesn’t automatically mean they are qualified to offer you sound advice.

“Sure, we can do that for you, no problem!”

If promises are made, no matter how insignificant, get it in writing before you sign on the dotted line.

Carpet Wholesalers Have Limitations:

How To Buy Carpet Wholesale? Dalton Carpet Retail Outlet Stores sell products other than Carpet.

This including sheet vinyl, hardwoods, plastic laminate, ceramic tile, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), and area rugs… all at deep discounts.

Many products they offer are second-quality goods, close-outs and roll ends.

They also have unique specials, cabin-grade wood products, promotional goods and ceramic tile closeouts.

Popular today are luxury vinyl tiles, carpet tiles, waterproof vinyl tiles, vinyl tile planks, laminate flooring and many other types of floor coverings you may want to buy, all at a discount.

Check and double check your choices

Regardless of what type of material you buy, you need to be absolutely sure about your choices. There are usually NO RETURNS on any discounted or second grade products or special-offer goods. Period.

However, if you order “First Quality Goods” and are unsatisfied (for any good reason), you can return your carpet or flooring materials.

That is, as long you bought the full roll (more than 30 yards) and the material has been uncut.

Still, there is a substantial re-stocking fee imposed of at least 15% and the customer is usually responsible for all return shipping costs.

If the product is defective, the return shipping costs may be covered by the seller or the manufacturer.

Special orders may be returned with a re-stocking fee of up to 70% and the customer is responsible for all return shipping costs.

This makes it almost impossible for you to win. Yikes!

Return Shipping… Could Cost You Hundreds!

The carpet you ordered is not what you expected. What can go wrong? Everything or anything!

The wrong color, the wrong style, you may order a 45-ounce carpet and a 38-ounce carpet shows up.

It could be an honest mistake or it could be the old bait and switch routine.

If the carpet you ordered is not what you receive then you can send it back right? Not always!

When it comes to Carpet Warranties…

How To Buy Carpet Wholesale? You are considered responsible until your Carpet is proven to be Defective!

Ordering carpet from an online source is tricky!

Mistakes do happen and sometimes the carpet you order has manufacturing defects that are often unforeseen.

If you find that there is a problem with your carpet, then it is your responsibility to prove it, to get it inspected, and finally to get authorization to return it.

Often you may have to pay a shipping company to return the carpet at your expense until the final determination of fault has been settled.

If the carpet discrepancy is found to be in your favor then you may receive a refund.

Who is the person responsible for making this determination? This is where it can get sticky.

This is where their fine print can come back to bite you in the….. Did you read the fine print?

Shipping a roll of carpet back to the vendor can cost you hundreds of dollars. It can be very difficult and time consuming for you.

Just because you paid $80 to have the carpet shipped to your home does not mean that it will only cost you $80 to ship it back.

These carpet sellers have a special arrangement with their local shipping company, but you don’t.

It could easily cost you hundreds to ship a roll of carpet back to where it came from!

You are also responsible for getting the roll of carpet wrapped up properly and put back on the delivery truck.

The trucking company does not show up with a forklift to move your roll of carpet from your garage floor into the back of their truck.

The truck driver will not lift a finger to help you, as it is not his job. YOU have to do it all.

When the shipping truck (carrier) arrives, it is your responsibility to pull the roll of carpet out of your garage (assuming that’s where it is).

Then you have to lift the roll into the back of the delivery truck.

This is not an easy task when most rolls of carpet weigh in at over 500 pounds or more and the rear deck of the delivery truck is over four feet high.

There may be other items already in the back of the truck, and you must be able to work around that too.

Essentially, if you buy it… then you own it.

This is where these carpet resellers have you over a barrel.

They know that once you figure out what a huge amount of physical effort it’s going to be for you to load up the carpet into the delivery truck.

They know how expensive it is to ship the carpet back and also pay their costly restocking fee.

It’s most likely you will decide to forget returning it and live with your defective carpet.

Sell your unwanted roll of carpet.

Put an ad in the local thrifty nickel or on Craigslist. Maybe it will sell on Facebook Marketplace?

This is a very common nightmare that so many unsuspecting consumers go through each and every day. You don’t want this to happen to you!

Buying Carpet at Wholesale Prices… Wisely!

On the other hand, if you are willing to take your time… you really can save a ton of money if you know exactly what you are doing and do your carpet homework.

Let me explain how the entire carpet buying process works when you choose to buy from a Georgia carpet wholesaler.

There is one carpet wholesaler in located Dalton, Georgia that I do recommend, and that is Warehouse Carpets. They have been in business since 1977 and have a very helpful website. One thing I really appreciate about Warehouse Carpets, is that they list all their staff and how to contact them. This lets me know they really care about your complete satisfaction.

Buying New Carpet Locally

The Safer and Easier Way to Buy New Carpet!

If you’ve ever been inside a local retail Carpet showroom no doubt you’ve seen the racks of carpet samples. Some local retailers carry rolls of carpet in-stock.

Local Carpet Retailer with rolls of in-stock Carpet

Read through my website to learn how to choose the right carpet and then visit one of my preferred carpet dealers.

Take your time. Take a few samples home. Learn what grade of carpet is best for you and find a style and color you like.

It’s always smart to get several free estimates from local reputable carpet retailers.

You will pay a little more buying locally but in the long run you will save time, trouble and avoid headaches!

What to expect when buying locally

Once you place your order with a local retailer, the carpet manufacturer will ship your carpet to the local retailer where you bought it. It might be shipped to a local carpet receiving business. It usually takes two to four weeks for delivery.

On the day of installation, their installers will load up your new carpet and padding into their truck and bring it to your home to install it.

You need to be ready when the installers arrive.

Print out my free Before You Buy Carpet Checklist to see what you need to do before, during and after you new carpet is installed.

You can usually get the whole job done in about two or three weeks from start to finish.

Your local carpet retailer will take care of all the details, including arranging for installation. So you can sit back and relax until they come out to install your new carpet.

Buying locally is less stressful and less risky too.

Less worries! But you do end up paying a little more for the good service you will enjoy.

When you buy from a Dalton Carpet Warehouse or wholesaler, you can save a lot of money. It takes a lot more time planning and effort, and there is certainly a lot more risk involved.

If you have the time to do a lot of research, then buying from a Dalton Georgia Carpet Reseller may be the way for you to great savings! The Best and Worst Places To Buy Carpet

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?

Understanding The PAR Carpet Rating System (P.A.R.)

What is The P.A.R. Carpet Rating System?

The PAR carpet rating system, created by Shaw Industries, designates a number from one-to-five, rating a carpet’s durability level based on a typical “family of four” scenario.

Homeowners are expected to understand that the higher the PAR Rating number the more durable the carpet will be. Your options are 1 2 3 4 or 5, is that a wide enough of a range? With dozens of carpet grades and qualities, how can this cover them all effectively?

Will a carpet with a par rating of 3 or 4 be durable enough for MY home?

How would you know unless you understand exactly how the manufacturer determines the durability level of each particular carpet?

While I’m sure they go to a lot of time and expense to provide this rating system for their carpet samples, I personally think it falls way short of being a trustworthy or worthwhile gauge for consumers.

“I believe the par carpet rating system is flawed and uses variables too limited in scope and vision.”

I don’t think the PAR Rating System is a reliable gauge of “real life” carpet durability. Are the parameters too narrow and inconsistent across the board with various styles of carpet? I think so!

The PAR Carpet Rating System is Simple but it’s certainly hard to understand.

I get plenty of emails from people who want to know what the PAR rating system is and which number from 1 to 5 will be durable enough for them.

Sadly, it is a very confusing system that doesn’t really help most consumers make the right carpet choice. It probably causes some homeowners to choose the wrong grade of carpet.

Even experienced carpet salespeople are confused about what the PAR numbers really mean or how to apply it to homeowners who have unique circumstances and varied “family of four” scenarios.

Understanding The PAR Carpet Rating System

After 30 years in the carpet business I know one thing for sure, there is no such thing as a typical family of four! If your choice is a number from 1 to 5, why would you take chances by going with any number less than 5?

This just means that more homeowners are making carpet choices for the wrong reasons. Not everyone needs to buy the most expensive carpet.

How Much Should I Spend on New Carpet?

You can be sure that if the PAR rating for a particular carpet is 5, it will be among the most expensive. That’s probably a good choice if you have heavy foot-traffic and want 20 years of use.

If you have low or medium foot-traffic and want 10 years of use, then you probably don’t need to buy the most expensive carpet.

Obviously, I do not put much faith in the PAR rating system. I do not recommend any consumer rely solely on the PAR rating to determine if a carpet can effectively meet their needs and goals.

I think there is a far better way to select the right carpet to meet your needs and goals. You only need to spend enough to meet your needs and goals. You can spend more, but is is unnecessary. Learn More

The C.A.T. Carpet Rating System

If I were going to design a simple numbering system to rate carpet quality and durability, I would call it something more easily understood like: The C.A.T. Carpet Durability Rating System. It would be a number from 1 to 100.

It would also help consumers choose the right carpet based partly on their number of Children, Animals and Teens!

C.A.T. Carpet Rating System by The Carpet Professor

Children Animals and Teens!

These are the three real-life characters that really need to be considered when choosing the right carpet for your home!

I have included these 3 factors into my free Carpet Foot-Traffic Test.

Are You Ready to Get Started?

When you first decide to buy new carpet, you need to ask yourself a few important questions before you begin shopping.

Your carefully considered answers will help you determine what grade of carpet is capable of meeting all your needs, goals, lifestyle.

Then you will have gathered all the information you need to calculate how much your project is going to cost, so you can adjust your budget accordingly.

Ask Yourself…

What is the level of foot-traffic in my home?
How long do I want my carpet to last? Years?
What grade of carpet will meet my needs, goals and lifestyle? Minimum Carpet Specifications?
Which carpet Fiber should I choose?
What Pile Density and Face-Weight should I select?
What Tuft Twist rating and Pile Height is best for me?
Which carpet style and color should I select?
What type of padding do I need? What thickness and density rating?
How much carpet and pad do I need to buy?
How much will this carpet, padding and installation cost?
What is my budget for this project?
Where can I find the best deals on new carpet?

Where Do I Start?

To get a good idea about what grade of carpet you need for your home, take my free Carpet Foot Traffic Test and we will go forward from there.

When you are ready to start shopping for carpet, visit my Preferred Carpet Dealer Directory to see who I recommend near you.

Use My Carpet Durability Rating Chart

Click on image to print or view

My carpet durability guide shows what I believe to be the best way to determine the durability of a given carpet based on its unique manufacturing specifications.

Before you make your final carpet selection, you will need to ask your retailer to provide you with the necessary carpet specifications. This information is critical and will help you compare carpets side by side make wise and informed carpet choices.

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?