How to Choose the Perfect Carpet For Your Home

Discover the benefits of installing carpet in your home. Learn about carpet styles, materials, costs and professional carpet installers.

There are many considerations when purchasing carpet for your home. Carpet is a large investment, something that is intended to last for years. There are many types of carpets to choose from, each with their own benefits. In addition to different materials, you must also pick a size and style for your home. As with any large purchase, you are strongly encouraged to take the time to research all the possible options.

Another decision you must make is whether you want to install the carpet yourself or hire a professional service. In most cases, hiring a professional carpet installer is the better choice. Hiring a professional ensures all your carpet is properly installed without damaging your floor. Working with experts also helps with picking the right carpet, as you can ask the professionals directly for advice on which carpets best suit your home.

Benefits of Carpets

Carpets are a great way to add style to your home. You can either choose a uniform carpet for your whole house, or you can customize each room with different carpet selections. In terms of comfort, it is hard to find a better flooring option. Carpet acts as a natural shock absorber and provides cushioning for your feet. It also provides more insulation along your floor, helping to retain warmth throughout your home.

There are also practical benefits to carpeting. With hardwood floors, sound carries further in a home. Carpets do not allow sound to bounce off your floors and create an echo, leading to a quitter house. You are also less likely to fall with carpeting because the floor is not as slippery as a hard surface. Even if you do fall, the softer landing provides more cushioning.

Types of Carpet Styles

Before you look at materials, you must pick a style for your carpet. There are five primary styles, plush, Saxony, Berber, textured and frieze. Plush carpeting is made from tightly twisted strands, creating a thicker, softer service. Footprints and vacuum tracks are more visible with plush carpeting. Saxony also uses twisted fibers, but they are packed closer together to create a softer, sheared surface.

Berber carpets are made out of continuous fiber loops, giving it a flatter, denser appearance. There are several different types of cuts available, changing the look of your carpet from short to tall fibers. Berber carpets are highly durable and great for higher traffic areas.

Textured carpeting uses fibers of varying heights to reflect light. This makes it easier to cover up tracks and dirt. Friezes are cut-pile, with partially twisted fibers. It has a softer feel than other carpets, while also doing a good job to cover up footprints. 

Types of Carpet Materials

Wool is a common type of material for carpets because it is soft and resilient. Some carpets are entirely made out of wool, while others contain a mixture of wool and man-made fibers to aid in durability and cleaning. Wool naturally retains its apparent and is also flame resistant. Wool has a wider price range depending on what type you use, costing around $10 to $25 per square foot.

Another common material is nylon. Nylon is usually combined with other materials, including wool. Because it is a synthetic material, it is highly durable and naturally easy to clean. Nylon is also resistant to abrasion, making it a good choice for carpet. Polypropylene is another material that is easy to clean and also resistant to abrasions. It is commonly used in twisted carpets. Nylon and polypropylene are inexpensive materials, costing around $3 to $7.

One of the newest materials for carpets is triexta. It was a recently discovered fiber which is more stain resistant than other carpet materials. It can even repel stains without additional stain protectors. It has similar durability to nylon, so it performs well in high-traffic areas. Because it is such a new fiber, it is one of the more expensive options, costing around $20 to $40. 

Empire Today

Empire is one of the oldest carpet installation companies in the United States. They are known for high-quality customer service, providing free, all-inclusive estimates on installation. The company also provides their own carpets for both residential and commercial buildings. During your estimate, you can ask questions and look through a wide selection of samples. Once you choose a carpet, next day installation is available.

National Floors Direct

National Floors is a popular carpet installation company because of their naturally low prices. The company commonly provides discounts to new customers. They are even willing to price match if you find another company with lower fees. National Floors is an entirely online company. Because they do not have physical stores to maintain, they have an easier time offering lower rates.

Home Depot

Home Depot carries many different types and brands of carpet, with over 400 styles available from their website. Carpets from the Home Decorators Collection come with a 15-year warranty. Many stores offer free installation for select collections as well. While the company does not provide next day installation, it typically takes less than a week to get your carpet installed.