Carpet is an excellent flooring choice for your home as it provides insulation, comfort, and style to any room. Though carpets can last for years when you carefully maintain them, unfortunately, sometimes carpets may need to be replaced due to age, stains, tears, and other reasons–replacing carpet can be inevitable sometimes, like if your home experiences flooding. But other times, it may not be clear when it's time to replace your carpet or even how to go about the process.
If you are wondering if it's time to replace your carpet or if you have questions about the installation process, we'll go over the basic information you need to get ready for your replacement. Read on to learn more about the subtle signs you need new carpets, the best long-lasting carpet brand options, and tips to elongate the lifecycle of your carpets.
How Can You Tell When It's Time to Replace Your Carpets?
Carpet can last a long time if you make sure to maintain and clean it regularly. However, even high-quality carpet that has been well-cared for will still need to be replaced eventually. How do you know when it's time to think about a replacement? If you aren't dealing with obvious holes or severe damage, it can be hard to spot the subtle signs that you need a replacement.
Normal Wear and Tears
There's no way to completely stop the wearing down of your carpet, especially in high-traffic areas of your home. Cleaning your carpets cannot undo the matting and crushed appearance of the fibers. It's also difficult and costly to repair large tears in your carpet, so you should take this as a sign that you should replace the whole area.
Age
Carpets don't last forever. If you've been stuck with the same old carpet that's been in your house for decades, then you should consider replacing it, even if there are no obvious signs of stains or holes. Over time, your carpet might lose its original coloring, have ripples or creases, or have matting issues. If your carpet is older than fifteen years old, then you'll need to consider replacing it.
The Smell of Mildew or Mold
Underneath your carpet is a padded mat. This mat works to insulate a room, provide a foundation for the carpet, and cushion your feet. Sometimes spills can penetrate the carpet fibers and seep into the padded mat beneath, causing a lingering mold or mildew smell that won't go away even after cleaning the carpet. When this smell happens, it's probably best to consider replacing the carpet and padded mat.
Stubborn Stains
Are you buying new rugs just to hide ugly stains on your carpet? Is your furniture arranged in a particular way in order to hide large splotches and discoloration? Carpet cleaning can do a lot of good work in getting rid of stubborn stains. But when you're still left with stains after you've exhausted all of your cleaning efforts, it might be time to admit defeat.
A Professional Clean Doesn't Cut It
A professional carpet cleaning can do wonders for your floor. However, sometimes even a professional cleaning service can't get rid of some odors and stains. If you are still unhappy with your floors after a professional carpet cleaning service, then you need to consider replacements.
What Is the Process of Replacing Carpets?
Replacing carpet can be a time-consuming and intimidating home improvement project to take on, which is why it's best to work with a professional to help you through the process. If you've decided that your carpets have seen better days, and want to find a new replacement, then there are a few things to know about as you go through the installation process.
Getting Rid of Your Old Carpet
You'll need to get rid of your old carpet and padded mat before you can install your new carpet. Installers will not lay new carpet on an old mat, so it will need to be replaced as well. Carpet & Tile Mart can provide this service for an additional fee. This service can save you a lot of time and work, as you would need to find a way to dispose of the old materials.
Professional Consultation
You'll also need to work with our staff on exact measurements for your space, as well as the product you would like to use. Trying to measure your space for carpet is not the best idea. It's not as straightforward as it sounds, especially when your space isn't a perfect square. We can send someone out to do the measurements of your space to ensure that they put in the correct dimensions for your order.
Estimates
Replacing carpet is an expensive purchase, and most people want to pick out the carpet that has the best value. Our team is an excellent resource for you to pick out the carpet that will work best for your home. Early on in the process, we should be able to give you a general estimate of the project. After a detailed consultation, including an in-person visit to your space to gather measurements, then your sales person will be able to give you a detailed breakdown of your bill. Deposits are often required during this time-consuming process. There are fees for extra services, like carpet removal and furniture moving. Replacing carpet can get expensive. If you are looking for ways to cut costs, and you have the ability and time to do so, you might want to consider moving your furniture by yourself or getting rid of your old carpet and mat.
Preparing for Installation
We will be able to provide you with any basic instructions that we want you to perform before your installation. But typically, it's always a good idea to make sure your space is well-ventilated. This construction project tends to kick up a lot of dust, allergens, and bacteria, so make sure that your windows can be opened and shut, as well as any ventilation systems you have in your home are working properly.
Post Installation
One of our installation professionals will take care of the installation process, leaving your new carpet without ripples or bumps and fitting snugly against all walls. You should take care after the installers leave and follow any instructions given. You'll want to move your furniture back in carefully.
When you are replacing a carpet, you might choose a different style than your previous carpet. So if your previous carpet was firm and compact, but your replacement carpet is thick and plush, you'll need to check if your doors can swing shut. Post installation, if your doors can't close comfortably, then you'll have to have your doors trimmed. It's important to think ahead about this possibility when choosing a replacement carpet. If you have your heart set on a thick carpet, but you know that it might affect your doors, you'll want to budget extra money for the door trimming.
What Carpet Brands Will Last a Long Time?
Not all carpets provide the same kind of durability and longevity as others. If you have kids or pets or just want to keep your carpet looking nice for as long as possible, then you'll want to do some research on carpet fibers and style.
There are a few factors that you should consider before picking out your carpet replacement.
- What is your overall budget for this project? You'll need to consider if you want to pay for extra services, like carpet removal and furniture moving. Your budget will determine how much you can spend on the carpet and the pad. High-quality and stain-resistant carpet will add to the longevity and value of the purchase, so you won't need to replace it as soon. So it might be worth it to spend a bit more on this carpet replacement project in order to save money in the future.
- What room or spaces will the carpet replacement be going to? If the carpet is going to be in the living room or bedroom, then you might prefer a softer feel. However, if the carpet will be going in the entryway or hallway, then you might prefer a firm, easy-to-clean option.
- Will there be a lot of traffic on these carpet spaces? You'll want to choose a pile that is not easily crushed and will be resistant to footsteps.
Overall, the best carpet replacement will suit your needs and lifestyle. One of the best options for durability, resiliency, and overall lifespan is the Mohawk SmartStrand carpet.
This Mohawk Enduring Idea- Magnetic Carpet option would work great for entryways, hallways, or places where people might wear shoes. It is a low-cut pile that has strong stain-resistant properties that make it super easy to clean and maintain. Plus, the dark color will work well to hide stains and discoloration.
For places where you might like a soft, plush feel, like the living room and bedroom, the Mohawk Glamorous Style- Azure Carpet is a good option. This SmartStrand Silk carpet is softer than the previous carpet, thanks to its silk-like fibers. It's also great for high-traffic areas, like the living room, which might receive a lot of foot traffic, spills, and messes, because it's easy to clean due to its low-cut patterned pile. It's just as stain-resistant as the previous option. So with proper maintenance and care, this carpet can look nice for a long time.
What Are Some Tips to Ensure Your Carpets Stay Nice for Longer?
Carpets are not meant to last forever. They should probably be replaced every ten to fifteen years as they'll show signs of aging and wear. However, there are some tips to follow to ensure your carpets look nice and last for as long as possible. With the proper maintenance and care, you can keep your flooring spotless and fresh.
- Vacuum often. If you have dogs or cats, then you might want to consider vacuuming daily. Pet dander and hair can quickly collect on your carpet, affecting air quality and potential allergies. You'll also get rid of any dirt or bacteria that can affect your family's health.
- Remove shoes. Shoes that have been worn outside tend to be pretty dirty. You can track a lot of messes inside, like mud or dirt. To avoid these messes, try to get into the habit of removing shoes at the entryways of your home, so you don't track dirt inside.
- Clean up spills and messes. It's always best to tackle spills before they turn into stubborn stains that have steeped into your carpet fibers. Try to always get to messes before they dry, as it can cause a lot more cleaning work later on when you're trying to get rid of the stain.
- Deep clean regularly. Hiring a professional carpet cleaning service or renting out your own carpet cleaning equipment is important to do yearly. Steam cleaning will be able to extract hard-to-reach dirt, bacteria, stains, and odors, so you'll carpet will feel much fresher than a simple vacuuming could accomplish.
Replacing your carpet may feel like a daunting task. But when you work with us, a lot of services related to carpet replacement are taken care of by professionals. From in-person measurements, consultation about carpet type and style, and the installation process, you can be assured that your replacement carpet will look amazing and perform well. If you've noticed any of the signs we've mentioned above, like mildew, tears, discoloration, and stubborn stains, and you feel like it's time to replace your carpet, then get in touch with our team today. We have high-quality replacement carpet brands that will last in your home for a long time.
Inside Our Typical Carpet & Tile Mart Store
