How long do you think wool carpets should last before needing replacement?

[PrincessPeaHead]

I know we have 4 kids two dogs and live in the country (therefore more mud etc around)but my carpets are looking v manky (flat, a bit stained in places, generally grubby) and they are "only" 8 years old. I'm sure I'm going to have to change them within a couple of years. Half are wool, half are coir which is sort of wearing out and beginning to let out loose threads. Is this normal? A 10 year life? Am I just going mad thinking that carpets should last a lot longer than that? I suppose they get a pounding, especially on the stairs... just wondered what you all thought.

Ours are a pale neutral colour and have lasted 5 years so far and still look almost new. I think you do need to clean them every so often though - we do every 2 years or so.

Do you have animals? They make an enormous difference I think. Most of my family have dogs and carpets looked shagged very quickly!

I think they should last longer than that. Have you had them professionally cleaned? I think that can make a big difference.

we have dogs but they aren't allowed upstairs where the wool carpets are. I haven't had them cleaned for a couple of years, maybe I should do that. They looked really good until about a year ago and have suddenly given up the ghost. Hmm.

So how long to you reckon they should go for? 15 years? 12?

Well the carpet in our bedroom is my mum & dad's old dining room carpet. Neither were heavy use areas but the carpet is about 20 years old and has loads of wear in it yet.

I want to change it because I'm mightily bored with it but it still looks pretty good.

An 80:20 wool mix should last for many many years.

Try hiring one of those "rug doctor" machines. Just done a couple of carpets in my house and they look really good. Costs about £20 for a day's hire, plus another £15 or so for detergent.

To answer your original question, I think they should last at least 10 years and hopefully up to 20 years.

Our stair carpet is 100% wool axminster, 12 years old I think, and on the landing where it has to bend sideways (iyswim) up a step it has suddenly gone completely threadbare

(No animals but 2 footballing boys )

hmmm. I'll get the cleaners in I think. Bedrooms are OK, it is halls and stairs really. Although even beds are looking a bit flat in heavier wear places (near doors etc).

I guess I'll try and wait until dd is at least 3 before I bite the bullet and change it - can't see it surviving more than a couple of years more though.