Buying new carpets

afm_2

Hello Everyone,

we need to replace the carpets in 3 bedrooms and possibly the stairs but, as we have never bought carpets before, we are a bit lost. We have no idea of what to look for and we are with a very limited budget.

We have decided to buy the carpets online and arrange for someone to come and fit them and we have already some decend quotes (for fitting). Now our main problem is which carpets/underlay. Just to give an idea of our needs, we are 2 adults that are careful with the carpets, we have a dog that brings a bit of mud inside and we'll possible need to resell the house soon. Thus, we need something that resists stains but that is also attractive to buyers. We have found 2 deals online that are of interest to us and I would like to know what you guys think about them:
http://www.carpet-underlays.co.uk/free-carpet-underlay/classic-wool-twist-carpet
http://www.carpet-underlays.co.uk/carpet-deal-stain-resist-twist/stain-resist-twist-carpet

Any idea if these are a good deal and if these would be suitable for our needs? Any advice on what should we be looking for? Are the underlays included any good?

Sorry for all the questions but we are quite lost and need some advice. Your help would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

PS: Forgot to add that we both have asthma. Are there any carpets that would be more suitable for us?

saterkey

We are in the same dilemma, things to note, get a good underlay particularly on the stairs. Also think about where the furniture is going to go while its being laid, as you will probably have to clear all rooms, i doubt youll be able to shift stuff about when they are there laying. we had a bedroom carpet laid and there was a line in the carpet like a dent, they said it would come up with hoovering but it never did, so watch out for that too. Maybe its worth going around some shops to have a feel of the carpets to see what sort of twist thickness etc you need in what rooms.

Debt_Free_Chick

saterkey wrote: »

we had a bedroom carpet laid and there was a line in the carpet like a dent, they said it would come up with hoovering but it never did, so watch out for that too.

Could be a floorboard slightly misaligned. Or, where a wall has been removed.

I have evidence of both in my house :mad:

warwicktiger

I am a carpet cleaner, not a fitter or salesman!

If you can go to a shop and feel various types of carpet, if it is 80%/20% Nylon the same carpet may come in several grades, often referred to as 30/40/50 ounce which is a reflection of the weight per square yard, therefore density of pile. In general 30 will be ok in bedrooms, but buy better for the stairs.

As to fibre choice, well your choice, but as a cleaner polypropylene carpets are pretty indestructible and easiest to clean.

If you buy anything new with wool content I would recommend ( I would wouldn't I!) getting protector applied immediately (often referred to as "ScotchGuard" which is an expensive brand. A local carpet cleaner would probably be far cheaper to use for this than the shop though, its a well know add on ££ maker for shops.

Your carpet fitter will expect empty rooms and may charge extra for or even refuse to move furniture.

Be wary of Nylon, looks ok for maybe 6 months then flattens! Also may give you issues with static electric shocks.

Hope this helps, pm me if you have any specific questions and I will try to answer.

grizzly1911

Can't find the threads now but Stainguard Harvest Heathers have been rated before on here.

http://www.carpet-superstore.com/carpets/stainguard-harvest-heathers-range.html

Polypropolene.

We have always had wool blends in main rooms before, but since having dogs ourselves, now, would look at these next time round.

The recommendations said the pile was soft underfoot like wool blends but was much more cleanable if need be.

The last real carpet we had fitted, the supplier recommended Cloud 9 underlay. It doesn't break down so quickly like some of the rubber duralay types -that's what he said and it has proved good to date 6 years

http://www.tradepriced.co.uk/cloud_9_carpet_underlay.html

Have no interest whatsoever in the links provided just reference points.

As you are on a budget why not have a look at some independent showrooms and see what they can offer on roll ends, or room size remnants, especially if you are not looking for "through the house" carpeting in the same stuff.

afm_2

Thank you all for the helpful replies. I have been away that's why I didn't reply before.

I am still in need of some advice since I don't understand, for instance,. what's hessian backing and felt backing. Which one is best?

Also, in terms of selling the house in the future, is there anything that I should be looking at like colours, piles, etc?

Thank you!

warwicktiger

Felt backing tends to be associated with cheap anorexic carpets, so generally hessian is better. As for future sales, go neutral in colour, avoiding white or very pale colours as they will show dirt and wear more often and more quickly. A gold/honey colour often looks better, unless you have a horde of children and pets, in which case go darker.

afm_2

Thanks for your reply! Is hessian the same as action backing?

We have now looked at quite a few carpets and decided to do the bedrooms only for now so that we can afford a better quality carpet+underlay. We were thinking about these:
http://www.regencycarefree.co.uk/range-ferndown.asp
Any thoughts on those? Are they good? They look good and feel soft but we are concerned with how resistant they will be -- specially because one of the bedrooms will be used as a study.

It would be great to "hear" your thoughts. Thanks!

PS. Forgot to add we are also thinking about cloud 9 8mm for underlay. Whould that be good enough? Thx!

Leif

I was told polypropylene does not last as long as wool, maybe 10 years max, less if heavy usage. I visited a friend recently, and saw his nice new carpet in the sitting room. Turns out the nice new carpet was fitted 10 years ago. It was a good wool one, Axminster or similar.

A local shop told me they could discount the carpet if the same kind was used throughout, as that would allow them to minimize wastage, given that there are two standard widths, 4m and 5m.

kev225

I used this place (was given the link by another MSE forumite) for underlay, gripper & door bars:

http://www.wilsons-carpet-underlays.co.uk/index.htm

Cloud 9 11mm underlay - £39.59 per roll, £2.64 per m2
Enough gripper for your needs - £23.99
Delivery £6.50 on the lot



I also bought my carpet from:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suffolk-Twist-Carpet-Any-Area-x-4m-Lounge-Bedroom-/130541975062?pt=UK_Home_Garden_FittedCarpets_Underlay_SM&var=&hash=item1e64e87616#ht_3012wt_1154

You can get free samples, I chose them because I liked the flecked style and needed 5m wide carpet. Though I wouldn't buy immediately from their eBay page, one of the colours I chose wasn't in stock, I'd give them a ring first to check stock levels.
0800 048 4801 / 01376 627 904


For fitting I used a local fitter (rang several for quotes). He wasn't the cheapest but did a good job @ £40 per room



All in all it's cost me under £1,500 to carpet 5 rooms & stairs, board and lino the bathroom.

afm_2

Thank you all for all the advice. We have now recarpeted the house following your advice and we are happy with the result. Underlay was bought online (cloud 9, 9mm), carpet bought locally but we went there armed with online prices and got a nice discount, and fitter was arranged by them and wasn't that expensive.

Thank for all the help!