Carpets --advise on where to look/buy

[prekapal]

Looking to get the flooring changed in our Top floor flat and want to get carpets since it will be warmer in the winters and easy to clean and maintain on a regular basis.

Does anyone have any advice on what kind of carpets we should buy - wool, polyester, natural fibres?

any recommendations on where we should buy or NOT buy from? names of any brands/high street stores would be appreciated as it will give us an indication of where to start and get an idea of how much it will cost.

carpets which are durable, easy maintenance and keep the place warm is what we need - for the Living room, hallways, 2 mid sized bedrooms.

P.S. we live in Harrow, Greater London - if it makes any difference.

[Orangeanddemons]

Avoid Carpetright. When we were looking for carpets, they charged the same price for 100% polyester as a local independent charged for 80% wool? carpet rights wool mix carpets were about 12quid higher psm than the independent shop.

[randomsabreuse]

Kidderminster has outlet stores that deliver nationally.

If you don't want all rooms the same get roll ends. Makes a big price difference. We got 80% wool carpets which were sold as hard wearing. Probably about 2k including fitting for large 3 bed once we've done the stairs.

Underlay makes a big difference as well as carpet. We got the thickest high quality one from the carpet shop and makes a real difference to the noise levels and comfort.

[wowfudge]

We've no complaints about Carpetright but it pays to shop around. My top tip is to buy your underlay online - it's where some of the biggest mark up is for carpet retailers.

[PigletJohn]

Look for a local independent. Instead of a glossy showroom and besuited salesmen, they will have a warehouse crammed with rolls. The sort of place that fits out shops, offices and hotels. They may well have some end-of-rolls at great reductions. They will be on an industrial estate, not a high street. If fitting is not included, they will know who to recommend.

The chains like Carpetwrong may tempt you in with headline prices, and make it up with overpriced underlay, edging and fitting.

[Iamalltheyhavenow]

Hi Prekapal,

I live in Middlesex, so not far from you, and have bought some lovely quality carpets from the Axminster outlet shop:

www.axminstershop.co.uk/

For one room paid £15/m when a local supplier quoted £27!

Only snag is that you need to find a fitter....

They are really helpful, will send samples so you can check colour/quality etc before buying. Sometimes they are sold as seconds (my hall stairs and landing are carpeted in a 100% Jacob wool one which is lush underfoot) but I have yet to find any faults that are visible. I would definitely use them again.

Agree with PP about Carpetright, have one of their 'quality' carpets in my bedroom, and it is, frankly, crap!

[Graciescotland]

I'd hunt around for a small independant, ours did fitting, underlay and carpet rods included for twelve quid per metre.

[movingonup2015]

I have just bought all my carpets online for half of the price of the ones in my local independent. Order samples firstly though so you know what you're getting but I was extremely pleased. For a 4 x 4 room I got really good thick 11mm underlay for £30 and the carpet which was a stain free bleach cleanable polywhatisface 8mm thick for £70 - really pleased with it and the same carpet in the local cheapest shop was £48 for a 8mm underlay and £120 for the carpet. sourced a local carpet fitter and he charged £35 for that room and hes coming back to do another room same size, another smaller bedroom and landing for £60 so its worth shopping around!

[TremoloGreen]

If you want easy maintenance, I would go for a man made fibre or at least a blend with a high percentage. These are more spill retardant whereas wool is absorbent and will take a wider range of cleaning products. If you are looking in a certain price range, say

[BeautifulBatman]

Buy cheap, but twice. And spend good money on underlay. It will preserve and extend the life of your carpet. An 80% wool mix is good. I disagree with the pp that said wool absorbs more. It certainly doesn't. Axminster, Wilton are expensive but will last a lifetime.

[MrsBosh]

I got mine from John Lewis, purely for convenience i.e. it was easy to go in and browse, chat to the SAs, take away samples and arrange appointment for measuring etc.

We had our master bedroom and lounge done and went for a plain 'twist' made up of 80% wool, I think. Try to avoid the 100% polypropalene (sp?) as although they're cheaper per square m, the material isn't as good as having some wool content.

Twist carpets are meant to be pretty hardwearing too, so check this with what you choose and that it's suitable for your room.

JL weren't the cheapest - I think we paid about £600 for each room, but I like their customer service so tend to 'trust' them for big purchases.

They do charge (about £60 if I remember correctly but I could be wrong) if you want you old carpet ripped up and disposed of at the time of fitting. We just did it ourselves to save a bit.