Wool or not wool carpets?

Alisha2008

Hi,

I'm trying to decide on which carpets to buy for my recently purchased house. The carpets will only go on the stairs and first floor, as we are installing laminate downstairs.

Looking at the samples in the shops, I like this thing:

http://www.carpetright.co.uk/carpets/zanzibar-deluxe-ivory-cable-2.html

(i'm not gonna buy it from there though)

Is that easy to clean, being real wool? We have 2 cats!

I've read here that a mixture 80/20 (wool/nylon) would be good, but I cannot find those in Carpet Right or Allied Carpets for example (just to take a look at the price).

Are those more difficult to find?

Thanks!!

olly300

What other carpet shops do you have in your area? Do you have a department store that sells carpets?

Finally how urgently do you need the carpets? As if you wait a while all the shops have sales so what you can find is that the expensive department store carpet costs the same as those from Carpet Right or Allied Carpets but is better quality.

I would recommend an 80/20 blend but I don't have cats and neither does one of my friends' who recommend that I get a carpet from a department store on sale.

Carrie_Bloomy

You should not use cleaning products with bleaching agents.
Choose very carefuly cleaning solution. The best solutions for wool carpets are those wih ph neutral value or close to neutral.
Acidic or too alkaline solutions may cause breakdown of the fibers or damage the texture.
Vacuum the carpet once a week.
Should use carpet cleaning service once a year.

suisidevw

We have had 100% wool carpets for a year, upstairs and no dog upstairs. Is great!

suisidevw

ps, op, we have VERY similiar to the one you posted above, got from our local independant, bargained heavily and got for about £12 sq/m.... see below from when it was fitted last year:

Alisha2008

Thanks for your replies!

We need the carpets before moving in, the thing is we are not sure when that's gonna happen.. but once we get a date for exchange, then we need them as soon as possible!

Store department you mean something like John Lewis? Do they do the fitting and everything? We were thinking of going to some little independent shop and get everything from there, laminate and carpets.. (and some vinyl for the 3 bathrooms!).

aliasojo

I just asked in a carpet store what would be the best most hardwearing type of carpet for a hall and stairs. Was told 80% wool 20% nylon was the best type and saw some samples. Didn't get as far as looking at price as we're a long way off buying, just wanted something to consider.

suisidevw

See other post above, think we cross posted!

Normally you can have carpet installed within 3-5 days or ordering it so surely a couple of days won't be an issue? Will give you a chance to repaint where necessary before hand?

We got all ours from independant, by far the best service, cost and installation service and price.

Alisha2008

We are definetely buying it from an independent shop, we compared prices with Carpet Right and it was the same or even cheaper!

We will look at the 80/20 mix when making the final decision, seems to be a good compromise, and we'll probably go for a darker colour for the stairs/landing, and lighter for the bedrooms, but the same pattern.

Thanks to all!

[Deleted User]

We also went for 20/80 type too. Luckily we could wait until the sale and got the carpet 1/2 price.

Don't forget if you go for 100% wool and ever have it shampoo style cleaned then you will probably also have to have it re-stretched as it may shrink slightly being wool.

I also vaguely remember something about some carpets being better for when you have pets than others. Maybe it is the ones where the fibres end in a loop that pluck easily? Better to ask when you buy.

taffy1969

Hi I have worked in a carpet shop for the last 13 years. I wouldn't buy from carpet r*&^t as their 'sales' are not really sales as you have found out by going to an independant. They also charge alot for additional items and their delivery charge is alot. Can't really say what is good with animals material wise but would recommend not buying cut and loop as they will pluck these. As far as their fur is concerned don't buy a colour that will show up their fur. Might not be much help, but hopefully is some.