how often do you buy new carpets?

[gramercy]

We bought new carpets when we moved in 7 years ago.

Along the main drags they are really quite threadbare and sad-looking - and they weren't cheapo carpets either.

How long do you expect a carpet to last? Is 7 years acceptable or not?

[Seona1973]

we had existing carpets when we moved in to the house 11 years ago and have only just replaced them due to staining from our old tropical fish tank and a traffic lane that couldnt be cleaned up any more (was a stupid pale coloured carpet!). 7 years doesnt seem long - my mum has carpets in her house that were there when I was born (38 years ago) although they are a bit threadbare in places! Our new carpet has a 10 year wear guarantee.

[gramercy]

Perhaps carpets aren't what they used to be. My parents had the same carpets for over 50 years. Very swirly , but very durable!

[PigletJohn]

7 years is not long, BUT they will wear/get dirty faster in corridoors and traffic paths (also if anyone keeps dripping tea or gravy on them)

For a heavy-traffic area, get a better quality (=more expensive) woven one. I'd recommend 80/20 Axminster (patterned in dark colours). If you bend it away from you, you will see how dense the pile is (the denser the better, you shouldn't be able to see the backing even when bent into a curve)

The rubber-backed or tufted ones are nowhere near as good as woven, and I have never been impressed by synthetics like nylon or acrylic. However when I was buying some carpets recently the dealer was telling me that Polypropylene ones are very hard wearing and stain-resistant. I don't know how true that is.

[gramercy]

Thanks for that. In the high-traffic areas of the house (sitting room door to sofa! and landing) the carpet is quite badly worn, so can't even be revived with cleaning.

[PigletJohn]

what sort of carpet is it?

[gramercy]

Something called "Heathland Twist" - I'm not really sure of the wool content.

[spottypancake]

In a high traffic area and also with young children around, I would say 7 years is OK for a carpet, particularly if it is a light colour. Yes, get them replaced if they need it.

[AnyoneButLulu]

Depends on children, pets, shoes. I'm about to replace ours after 7 years - they were too cheap and too pale though.

[PigletJohn]

Sounds like "Heather Twist"

Presumably in a plain, unpatterned but slightly speckly finish?

The material it is made of is important to how well it will wear (and how much it costs) but for a high-traffic area you need a good carpet.

[gramercy]

Yes, that's it - but very much more speckly than how it started off!

I think the mistake we made is people + plain fawn carpet = not a good idea.

[gramercy]

I have salivated over a Brinton's carpet in John Lewis that is lovely and soft yet with a busy pattern. But totally out of our price range.

[Methe]

Ours in coming out at 7 years soon. We cleaned it recently and it was a bloody revelation i'll tell you - THE FILTH that came out of it was a sight to behold.

I don't think i'll ever have carpet in a living area again, bedrooms fine but no way in the living room.

I can't even begin to imagine how much dirt must live in a 50 year old carpet

[PigletJohn]

Polypropylene carpet is very stain resistant, and about half the cost of an equivalent 80/20, but I haven't had experience of how well it will wear.

I got some recently in one room when recarpeting a house, it certainly looks and feels OK, but time will tell. I did the rest in better (more expensive) carpets (this was after a burst pipe so there was a lot to do). It was an alternative to having vinyl due to the use of the room, and looks and feels far better.

For a heavy traffic area, I would normally go for an 80/20 Axminster with a pattern that was not too overpowering. The pattern will make marks less prominent, and it is a good woven carpet.

Good-sized mats at doorways will help with the wear, a local carpet fitter will probably know someone locally who can cut and bind them in your carpet material using off-cuts or an extra metre. They look fine as they match. You will need a few spares though as they will get lots of wear.

[gramercy]

Thanks for your help, PigletJohn. We have lots of trees outside which result in quite a bit of mulch being trodden indoors.

When I see what I sweep up from the hall (wooden floor) I can only imagine the grot that is trodden into the carpets elsewhere (with you, Methe).

[mogs0]

I live in a rented house (my aunt is my landlady) and am getting a new carpet in one of the bedrooms tomorrow. We had to rip out the old carpet today which has been in the house for 20+ years.

Unfortunately, my aunt has now decided she can't afford to replace the carpet in the other bedroom which is in a far worse state.

Thankfully, she had a wooden floor put down just before ds and I moved in. My front door opens out directly onto the pavement of a busy road and the dirt that ends up on the lounge floor is grim. I can't begin to imagine what a carpet would be like.

[PigletJohn]

We take our shoes off at the door, which must help (also have slippers there which not everyone does, and soft indoor shoes if there is a need to look smart. It's a habit, I also keep indoor shoes at work.

[mogs0]

We're the same, pigletjohn. I'm a cm and have trained all children to remove shoes on the rug by the door - even have a room divider gate thingy to create a hallway but no adults that ever cross the threshold (and there are many) take off their shoes. Tbf, I never ask but I might start making people stand in my make-shift hallway from now on .

[halcyondays]

I would expect a decent carpet to last more than seven years.

[tower84]

Our carpets have been down 10 1/2 years. The bedroom ones were cheaper with a cheaper unmderlay and you can tell. They definately need replacing. Lounge, dining landing and stairs was a better quality carpet and they would be fine. If it weren't for stains of course.