Carpet
Purchasing carpet can be very confusing. Many stores make comparison shopping very difficult. Manufacturers offer wide selection of products however some chain stores and box stores have products made to resemble other products making it difficult to compare. The best example of this comes at Home Depot where the manufacturer may design a product with just a little difference in weight making it seem less expensive.
Be certain when comparing that you are comparing the identical product not just another look a like.
Many stores refer to the ounces of a carpet. This measurement usually has no bearing on the quality only a measure of the product at two different stages. Total weight is usually the measurements most stores quote which can be very misleading. Total weight refers to the yarn added to make the product inclusive of backings, glues, resins and other additives. During the manufacturing process much of the original yarn weight is lost in an effort to give a clean finish. This loss of yarn is very important to the mill and all mills strive to reduce the wasted yarn. The best way to compare a the carpet is the yarn weight when completed known as face weight. That is the actual amount of yarn left after the product has been finished. The difference between total weight and face weight can vary as much as 50 -60%.
The next issue is the stitch count and the denier of the yarn. Most good manufacturers should show these as they allow you to compare equals. Please keep in mind a well made 28 ounce product may outperform a poorly made 50 ounce product.
Regarding the different qualities and properties of different yarns be certain to ask our sales representatives for more information. Not all yarns are equal and each yarn offers different properties. Make certain your yarn selection meets all or most of your important requirements. Polyester, nylon, polypropylene, wool and acrylic are common yarns used in carpet.
Make certain that when choosing a carpet from a sample book that has more than one big sample on the front that you actually receive the proper product. Manufactures quite often make products in different weights in order for you to put the correct product in the proper wear area. Seldom used areas can have a lower weight carpet while higher traffic areas demand a better product. This is why manufactuers make multi-weight carpet available in the same colors. Our slogan is "spend your money where you spend your time." This means you can have color consistency without spending extra money on lightly used rooms.
Pile direction is very important when installing the carpet, make certain you know if the carpet direction is being changed. Changing direction possibly will result in the carpet looking much different, even if it comes off the same roll.
Many retailers that stock inventory are offered what the manufactuer calls second quality. Be certain that your invoice clearly states your product is first quality as the warranties and the durability may have been comprimized. Your invoice should have the manufactuers style number or name as well as the color number. Privately labeled products will only leave you guessing. Remember Harding Carpets, they were a household name and they went bankrupt.
Remember if the deal seems too good to be true it probably is...........shop around and compare equals.
