Let's talk carpets for a moment please

[Earlybird]

At some point, in the not-too-distant-future, our flat will need new carpets.

I've looked casually at Peter Jones/John Lewis and some independent shops, but have felt overwhelmed by all the choices (many dozens). I don't want/need the most expensive, but neither do I want cheap and nasty. But there is so much choice in between, and I have no idea how to judge or choose. Wool, wool blend, synthetic, etc.

I'd like something of reasonable to good quality, hard wearing/long lasting, decent pile, soft underfoot, easy to clean/hoover. Also want it to look reasonable at all times (current carpets show foot/shoe indentations, so only look nice when just hoovered).

What sort of carpets do you have, and how did you choose? Will you do anything different next time? Where did you buy from and would you buy from them again? Wondering about the wisdom of chain vs independent. Finally - iirc, carpet is sold by the meter? What sort of price range should I expect without getting into top of the line prices?

Perhaps it wasn't a brilliant idea to ask this on a Friday night, so here's hoping the Saturday crowd is able to help.

Hopeful bump...

Hello,

we recently got some new carpet - went into John Lewis and had a good feel of all the carpets they had. Went for something with a bit of nubbly texture (I could look what it was if you like) in a cream but with flecks of brown in. It is a 'grade 2' carpet, so hard wearing but not super hard wearing (so not too hard on the feet), and seems to hold up to the dirt quite well.

I like it.

Also, JL sent a chap round to measure up and give a quote and then there was no hard sell - but of course when we decided to buy it was all v. efficient and well executed.

Very happy.

we need new carpets. i went to carpet right and had a feel.
in th end i have ordered a carpet which was £19 per square yard. its gorgeous and was fitted 3 days after ordering.

that was for one room, got the rest of the house to do now!

Thanks for the feedback. Seems both of you went for something that looked nice, and had a nice 'feel'.

Tallbirduk - how many 'grades' of carpet are there, and what do the grades signify?

Maybe I'm overcomplicating things. But I always get caught up thinking 'but what is it exactly that makes a carpet cost £35 per square yard (or more) vs £20 per square yard - and is it worth spending more since it's not something you purchase often'?

I honestly don't know how to evaluate.

As far as I could see at JL they had mainly 3 grades - 1 is for areas of very hard wearing and tended to be quite coarse, so would last forever but would be quite hard underfoot, 2 is for areas of medium to hard wear - so pretty good for all round the house (apparently) and there were lots of this, mainly the textured rather than 'fluffy' sort of carpet (if you know what I mean?), and then there was grade 3 carpet - which was a bit less robust I guess.

I know exactly what you mean though - what makes one carpet so much more expensive than the next - so we went for something about middle of the road, which was £23 / m2 and the more expensive underlay (as we have wooden floors, so that will make a difference).

To be honest, we didn't do that much research, and definately went by what we most liked the look / feel of and didn't break the bank.

This site gives some good info on choosing carpet.

Also, try to choose a carpet that has a woven or hessian backing, NOT foam. Foam backed carpet indents and shows furniture marks more over time, plus if you have to lift it for any reason you are stuck (literally, 'cos it sticks to the floor!)

Get the best quality underlay you can afford. If offered free underlay (usually the cheapest grade) consider asking if you can pay a bit extra and upgrade it.

SaintGeorge - thanks for the useful link. Choosing carpets is more complicated than I realised! Suppose that's why I have wandered in/out of the carpet area in John Lewis so many times without feeling any closer to a decision. Think I won't be able to postpone much longer though, as the flat carpets are starting to look worn/tired and aren't revived much even by cleaning.

My dad is a carpet fitter;

He recommends a 80/20 wool mix as a good hard wearing but nice carpet. I always buy this sort for high traffic areas. Agree try to avoid foam back, get hessian backed as better quality.

He would also say get the best underlay and a slightly cheaper carpet, it can make a big difference (if you are on a budget)

I would recommend a slightly mottled colour to the carpet, rather than a very pain one tone carpet - we have this on our stairs and it doesn't show the dirt so much. I am assuming you want the whole flat done in the same carpet.

Never buy a dark red or blue as they really show the dirt.

I always take him when I go and he haggles the price down and gets free gripper etc thown in. I have been buying carpet from an independent warehouse place in West London for several years now. Can remommend them if you like.

PS. my dad says never buy a carpet from Carpet Right - no idea why but that is what he says.

Personally I owuld go to an independent shop as you can haggle on the price.

cece - thanks for info. When you say 80/20 mix - presumable the 80 is wool, what is the 20 made of? From SaintGeorge's link there can be nylon, acrylic, polyester, etc. Which is best, or rather (without you having to write an essay!), are there pros/cons to each different kind?

What is gripper?

If you haggle, what is a reasonable discount to hope for off list price? 10%? More? Would hate to insult them, but also would love to get a good deal.

You see, I really am completely in the dark with this stuff!

And yes, please do recommend your West London warehouse.

Thanks very much, btw.

Panics, looks at new carpet,

WHY NOT CARPET RIGHT?

My dad gets about 10% off but he is a carpet fitter so knows what he is talking about and is a very good haggler.

Not sure what the 20% is - something man made!?

Not sure what it is specifically about Carpet Right but knowing him it is probably the cost/value for money.

The one I use is called Carpet Town in Southall - on an industrial estate next to Matalan. The estate is near the RSPCA place, if that helps.

We get more off as he fits so we don't have to pay the premium added to price of carpet per metre for the 'free' fitting.

Also if we buy an offcut we seem to get more off as we take it away there and then in the car.

Phew.

Cost/value for money not a problem. Just had all ground floor done on insurance after last years flood.

OK - didn't mean to panic you. My dad is notoriously tight fisted about things like that.

So am I when I'm not spending the insurance company money.

cece - this is a great help.

More questions: if you buy from Carpet Town, do they deliver? Will they fit too? What happens with old carpets - are they taken away?

They do deliver and they do fit not sure about taking old ones away though. You may have to ask them.

Cece - does your dad do work in London? Just thinking ahead...

No he lives about 200 miles away!

Ah, OK. Thought maybe you could steer me toward what to get/where to shop, and he could do fiting. Would've been a full service Mumsnet question/answer/solution session!

LOL!

brilliant thread! we're looking for carpet for our stairs and had no idea where to start. thank you! (and i agree about blue carpet - the last owners had blue carpet put in the hall/ up the stairs NIGHTMARE!!)

Yes, I've found this thread very helpful. We see so many threads on how to redo kitchens (worktops, sorts of flooring,etc), what to do about curtains/blinds, etc, that it surprised me we hadn't discussed carpets in-depth.

Maybe Mumsnet is populated by people with mainly floorboards, or perhaps (like me), with children in the mix we live with manky carpets much longer than we should!

Absolutely 100% second the advice about getting good quality underlay. My sister thought she could skimp on underlay in her hall and it's a disaster now after only a couple of years.