Carpets

[Liverbird77]

Can anyone share any wisdom about carpets? Are we better to buy the underlay separate? Are carpet right any good?

Just go to any carpet shop that does everything. Underlay that’s suitable for the carpet, the right sort of carpet for your needs and fits it. Ask about who alters any doors for clearance. Also make sure your floors are flat and what you are going to do if they are not. Sometimes they need a ply overlay.

I've had 2 carpets fitted recently. The first was from an independent retailer who fitted it all but we had to take up the old carpets. The second was from John Lewis. We used their fitting service, and took out furniture, then took up and removed our old carpets, screwed down wobbly floorboards, fitted new underlay carpets and replaced the furniture. They took all the rubbish away with them and even vacuumed up. It was money well spent.

Oh and both carpets are bleachable, with separate underlay.

I've had a couple of new carpets in the last couple of years. Both times use local independent. No more expensive that carpet right and supporting local business. It's worth visiting your local shops.

I thought carpetright were meant to be a bit rubbish. John Lewis on the other hand, gold standard.

Before we had ours fitted I read that it was worth getting really good quality/thickness underlay.

We paid an installer £50 to fit our underlay and carpet (grips were already down). It took him no time at all and looked really good.

Now I would consider fitting a small room myself. But it would take me a lot longer than a professional.

Use a local independent which gets decent reviews. JL you are dependent on which particular team you get, some better than others.

Decent underlay will make your carpet feel better underfoot and last longer. Also blocks noise better. Cloud 9 is supposed to be very good.

If you can, use silicone sealant in the gaps between skirting boards and hard floor, before the carpet gets fitted. (Carpet fitters won’t do this bit but fairly easy to do yourself if you’re happy to pull up the edges of the old carpet in advance). Also get the carpet fitter to lay paper across the floor before the carpet goes down. These tricks stop dust coming up through the floor and causing grubby grey lines or edges.

YY to thinking about doors, do you have the right size gap underneath.

Thanks for your advice, everyone

Hydrophobic (waterproof) carpet is the greatest invention ever. It's just like normal carpet but you can pour red wine on and it will sit there until soaked up with a cloth- no mark of any kind. The coating makes no difference to the look or feel and can't be washed off.

It's virtually the same price for equivalent quality (you can get most standards) unless you go to a big chain store, in which case you will pay more.

We found Carpet right terrible, wouldn't ever use them again. We now use a local independent. The shop will advise you about underlay, which comes in different thicknesses and price.