What's your definition of 'cheap' carpet?

boombap

Hi there!

My fiance and I have just bought our first house and the number one job to be done is get it recarpeted throughout (all rooms bar kitchen and bathroom).

I've been doing a fair bit of research online and keep reading that buying 'cheap' carpet is a false ecomomy. But what do you define as a 'cheap' price? On one thread on the MSE forum users were discussing carpets priced at £45 - £65 per square metre - unfortunately our finances at the moment can stretch nowhere near that.

There's an independent carpet shop not too far away that has a rather large selection of nice looking 'on the roll' carpets for between £3 - £10 per square yard. Would going for a £10 carpet last or would anything in that price range end up being a short term solution so spending the extra £7 per square yard be a waste of money?

We want the same carpet throughout the whole house, in a warm beigey natural shade and in a textured berber style. We're intending to buy a thick underlay too.

As it's our first house there's a fair few other jobs to be done hence the 'tight' budget. Also, it's about 135 square metres we're needing so we need an awful lot of carpet!

Any advice much appreciated.

S.

Doozergirl

For 135 square metres, you'd be looking at at least a roll of carpet. If you speak to an independent, they might be able to supply you with a full roll for less of a mark up on their part as they won't end up with half a roll of carpet to try and sell to someone else that way.

boombap

Thanks for that Doozer - a very good tip that and I'll certainly enquire.

We'd be getting the fitting done through the independent shop that we're intending to buy from. Is there anything one should watch out for from cheap carpet fitters? If they make a pig's ear of the job is there any come back you have? If we're able to then we'll pay via credit card but I don't know yet of the store accepts credit cards (I'm pretty certain they do though).

This is the first time either of us have done any 'house' stuff and I'm getting extremely anxious about it so any further advice or tips you have will be sincerely appreciated!

Thanks all,

S.

MinMoz

Squee, we too had to get a carpet for our whole house on a budget. Ended up ordering via www.carpet.it . Very pleased with them so would recommend.

Errata

We'd be getting the fitting done through the independent shop that we're intending to buy from. Is there anything one should watch out for from cheap carpet fitters?

Independent shops are generally very particular about their carpet fitters because the fitters can ruin the shop's reputation very easily if they're not up to the mark.

wallbash

Horror /shock we bought all our carpet from a well known 'cheap' chain
That's right :rotfl:

Been doing the house up for a number of years , but have always gone back
we had good service and the fitters have been great. But you pay them on the day
(after their job is done).

One told me , he took jobs from a variety of stores , some like 'thats right '!!
got the customer to pay on the day, but some like John Lewis, the customer paid the store and the store reimbursed the fitter. But the cost to the customer was greater,.:rolleyes: but he did not see any extra.

Every one says support your local independent shop, but after pricing up the total cost the chains win . Is it inferior carpet , ask me in another ten years because the hall carpet still looks good after eight.

Yes we all get fed up with the 50% / 60% off always being advertised, just ignore it , its the final bill that is important.

Auzelia

well I just got a hall carpet 19foot by 8 foot for £34 (end roll) reduced from just around the £200 mark.

From J&W carpet.

and my lino from the same place 9 Foot by 8foot was £19.

Going back tomorrow to scope out some end of line bedroom carpets.

boombap

Many thanks for your responses all, you've put my mind at rest

Happy DIY-ing

S.

Astec

Personally I'd say it it feels stupidly thin and rough...avoid. I'd rather spend £5-10 a square metre and change it after 5 years, than spend £50 a square metre coz you still won't keep it much longer than 10 years.

I managed to source a big roll end (5x4m), but will then buy the remainder off the roll. Should end up costing under £250 for about 40m sq. For underlay I'll most likely buy online, around £20-30 roll on ebay, not the best stuff I know, but £350 for stairs, landing and 2 bedrooms, carpet, underlay and fitting. Don't plan to be here in 5 years so it'll do.

Jue_xx

Astec wrote: »

Personally I'd say it it feels stupidly thin and rough...avoid. I'd rather spend £5-10 a square metre and change it after 5 years, than spend £50 a square metre coz you still won't keep it much longer than 10 years.

Very good point. We put down a creamy-beige carpet in the lounge five years ago, and despite my strict shoes ban, it's still looking grubby and worn now. It's still like brand new under the sofas, and feels lovely and squidgy when I move the sofas to hoover, but the "heavy traffic areas" look very tired now. Unfortunately there is only one possibility for furniture arrangment in my lounge, so I can't move the sofas around to expose the nice carpet that's hidden beneath! :rolleyes:

gabyjane

Hi we had our new house done 2 years ago and due to not knowing we had to carpet it we had a bit of a shock when we found out!!(new build)..anyway we went to a local independant fitter and they did the whole house..the stairs and halls are carpet in cream (only one we liked!) it was £10 per sq metre but as we had lots of wood too for the other rooms i think they knocked it down to about £7-50ish which was good enough for us!
We have lived here 2 years now and the 3ish bottom steps in the hall are a bit grubby but it has kept really really well, we have no shoes on in the house though..hasn't flattened too much and is walked on a lot, and when hoovered looks as good as new.
So ide say i wouldn't spend over that tbh. Poss for a lounge with more use i would.
Good luck x