Signs Your Carpet Needs Replacing

While ensuring your carpet is cleaned by professionals on a regular basis keeps it fresh and clean as well as helps it last longer, there will surely come a point when it needs to be replaced.

Like everything else, carpets have a lifespan too. Even though proper maintenance increases the duration, foot traffic, dust particles, and occasional spills will damage the carpet in the course of time. Unfortunately, when this happens, even professional cleaners can fix things up to a certain extent. At some point, you have no choice but to replace your carpet.

Here are seven clear signs that it’s time to call the professionalsand trade in your old carpets for something new.

1. Stubborn Stains

That beige carpet might have seemed a versatile color when you chose it. But now it’s covered with stubborn coffee, red wine, and spaghetti sauce stains it doesn’t seem like it was such a good choice.

Although professional cleaning can help, you should avoid using store-bought cleaners. These can damage your carpets with harsh chemicals and may make stains appear worse.

There’s always the option of covering stains with furniture or rugs. But if your house is starting to resemble an obstacle course with everything you’ve placed over stains in an attempt to hide them, it could be time for a carpet replacement.

2. Water Damage and Mold

While most stains look unsightly, stains caused by water damage are also potential health hazards.

Water damage from leaking pipes and radiators in your home can then lead to mold and mildew stains on your carpets. Mold can be dangerousand even fatal for those with severe mold allergies or asthma.

The best way to prevent water and mold from damaging your carpet is with regular inspection, especially around areas of carpet near pipes. Look for black, white, or green stains that change shape, or musty smells that won’t go away.

If you suspect your carpet might have mold, you can buy a mold testing kit to be sure. But, if there’s mold, ripping up the carpet and starting afresh is the only way to ensure the safety of your home and family.

3. Bad Odors

If even proper cleaning can’t get rid of noticeable bad smells coming from your carpet, it’s likely that the odor has seeped into the carpet fibers, padding, or sub-floor underneath.

Bad odors may come from human or animal biological materials such as vomit, pet urine, or feces, as well as mold and mildew. This means that not only is a smelly carpet unpleasant, it’s also a cause for concern about health risks.

As such, your only option to get rid of odors and the health risks they may suggest is a full carpet replacement.

4. Wear and Tear

The flooringis one of the first things that guests and potential buyers notice when they enter a home. If your carpeting shows signs of matting, or has tears and worn patches, your house can look shabby and dirty as a result, no matter how clean it is.

Carpet fibers start to become frayed and matted within three to five years so some wear and tear is hard to prevent. This is especially the case for carpets in areas with a lot of foot traffic, such as stairs, hallways, and living rooms.

Of course, worn patches, rips, and loose carpet in high-traffic areas can also pose a risk for trips, slips, and falls. With this in mind, removing carpet from stairs and landings is a wise move to avoid potential accidents in the home.

5. Increased Allergy Symptoms

Carpet fibers are magnets for pet fur, dirt, dust, pollen, and a whole host of other allergens that can cause uncomfortable symptomslike sneezing, stuffiness, and itchy, red eyes.

If it seems like your family is always suffering from colds or allergies, your carpet could be the culprit. And, while good hygiene and professional maintenance can help, even thorough cleaning can’t remove all signs of allergens. Plus, there are only so many times you can clean your carpet before it starts to wear out.

6. Worn-Out Padding

Your carpet padding provides a layer of cushioning as well as a noise buffer and added insulation. Depending on the material, carpet padding can last up to 25 years. Although, the most popular foam-based carpet padding only lasts around 10 years.

Over time, and especially in high-traffic areas, your padding can degrade and become misshapen and dirty, just like the carpet above it. The result will be a carpet that’s uneven in places, wrinkled, and less comfortable to walk and sit on.

Once your carpet padding is worn out, it often makes sense to replace it the next time you replace the carpet.

Signs You Need Your Carpet Cleaned

Sometimes, a thorough cleaning is all your need to get your carpet looking — and smelling — like new. If any of the signs discussed below apply to you, you might be in need of a professional carpet cleaning.

It Hasn’t Been Cleaned In Over A Year

When was the last time you had your carpets cleaned? Even if you’re careful about spills and don’t let your kids wear shoes in the house, your carpets still collect a lot of dirt and dust that should be regularly removed by a professional.

When it comes to carpet cleaning, a general rule is that it should be professionally cleaned at least once a year.

If it’s been longer than a year, you should definitely contact a carpet cleaning service, especially if you have pets or small children running around. Regular cleanings will extend the lifespan of your carpet, make day-to-day maintenance easier, and improve your home’s overall appearance.

You’re Having Allergy Problems

If you’ve noticed that your indoor allergies have gotten worse, you might be due for a professional carpet cleaning.

Carpets collect a lot of dust, dirt, pet dander, and other allergens, even if you’re vacuuming them regularly. The slightest movement — like sitting on or walking across the carpet — can disturb these allergens and send them into the air, where they can circulate for several hours before settling back down again.

To get rid of some of this build up and improve your allergy symptoms, you should get your carpets cleaned as soon as possible.

It’s Looking Dull Or Dirty

When you look at and walk across your carpet every day, you get used to the way it looks. You might not think your carpet looks bad, but a furniture test can let you know how dull or dirty it really is.

Move a piece of furniture that hasn’t been moved in a while, and take a look at the carpet underneath. Does it look lighter, fluffier, and cleaner, especially compared to the carpet surrounding it?

Professional cleaning can help get all the dirt out of your carpet and lift it back up again so that it looks as good as new!

Signs Your Office Carpet Should be Replaced

If you have owned the same office building for many years, then you might be needing a flooring upgrade. Over the years high traffic areas get worn down and office areas get coffee spilled on them. When people end up walking into your business their impression can be greatly impacted. Regardless of how well you take care of your carpet, it will always eventually need to be replaced. How well you take care of it can change how soon you need to replace it though. Let’s talk about the signs that tell you, it’s time to replace the carpet in your business.

There are a couple of obvious signs that your carpet needs to be replaced one of them being stains. When you have stains that you’re no longer able to remove with a carpet cleaner, and they are starting to accumulate, then it’s a good sign that it’s been long enough that you have had it. Along with that is, of course, wear and tear. If you have rips or bubbles starting to form, then you’re getting yourself into a lawsuit situation if it’s not taken care of promptly.

When considering other signs though, they may be less noticeable. For example, if there is an odor that your employees or customers are starting to smell then it’s time to rip it out. The trouble with this is that odors don’t just happen overnight, it can take some time for them to fully develop. Once it does, you might have some trouble trying to identify where the odor is coming from.

Another major sign that your carpet needs to be replaced in your place of business is the style. If you feel like you’re walking into a time warp every time you step foot into your building, then it’s time to make some updates to the place. Carpet is one update that really isn’t optional because if you don’t it will always give you away on the true age of the place. Let’s face it, people are inclined to stay or leave your business based purely on what they see with their eyes.

Factors Affecting the Lifespan of a Carpet

Among the factors affecting the life of a carpet, there is usage frequency (aka foot traffic), cleaning frequency, cleaning materials you use, the environment where the carpet is placed, and having little children and/or pets who can spill anything at any time on your carpet.

Usage Frequency: Foot Traffic

A carpet’s usage frequency is measured by means of foot traffic. Normally, foot traffic is a term used to describe pedestrian visitors to a pre-defined place. When it comes to carpets, it means the number of steps taken on a carpet.

Foot traffic is classified in 4 groups as light traffic, moderate traffic, heavy traffic, and extra heavy traffic. One foot traffic unit is defined as a person walking across a section of carpet one time. Light traffic means 100 foot traffic units per day. Moderate traffic corresponds to 100 to 1000 foot traffic units per day. When we say heavy traffic, we mean there are 1000 to 10000 foot traffic units per day. Finally, extra heavy traffic is equal to any number bigger than 10000 foot traffic units per day.

Whatever the foot traffic is, all carpets get worn out over time. And there will be some point when you need to replace your carpet. However, even if you can not prevent this, you can extend the life of your carpet.

For the areas with heavy and extra heavy foot traffic, you should prefer

shorter pile carpets (carpets under 2cm tall). Those are the most durable ones.

In addition to this, using wool carpets in high traffic areas would be a better choice. Wool fiber is ideal for high traffic areas as the wool bounces back making it extra durable to crushing and losing shape.

Cleaning Frequency

It is recommended that you sweep your carpets 1 time a week under normal conditions. In addition, when a stain occurs on the carpet, you should intervene it immediately. By this way, stain on the carpet won’t be permanent. Sweeping the carpet too often will cause faster aging, just as not cleaning the dirt and dust accumulated in the carpet will cause damage to its pile.

On the other hand, the frequency of carpet washing will vary depending on the number of residents and the level of use. You should clean your carpets in 3-6 months in more used rooms and in 9-12 months in less frequently used rooms. If you have a child or pet, you should clean all carpets at least twice a year.

Experts generally recommend that the carpets should be washed every 6 months. However, if there is an abnormal dust increase in the house, they should be washed more frequently. Carpet cleaning interval for families with children may be settled as every 3 months. Children of the 2-3 age group spend a lot of time on the carpet, in case of excessive dust and dirt their health will be adversely affected.

Dust and dirt are generally not visible because they penetrate deep into the carpets. This creates the perception that your carpet is clean, but no matter how strong a vacuum cleaner is, it is not completely cleaned up unless it is washed regularly. Trying to clean your carpet at home does not provide a complete cleaning. In addition to that, you should send them to be washed on a regular basis.

Is Commercial Carpet A Good Choice for Your Business?

Choosing the right commercial flooring can be a challenge, particularly when you have a long list of criteria you need your flooring choice to fill.

Fortunately, the last decade has seen a dramatic shift in the commercial flooring industry with new and innovative trends emerging that are changing the appearance and performance of commercial flooring. Carpet has remained popular over the years for commercial spaces because of it’s acoustic and foot traffic benefits. Businesses might also choose carpet because of style and appearance. Here we evaluate whether carpet is a good choice for commercial floors, including all the criteria you need to weigh up when choosing the ideal flooring for your commercial space.

Carpet Choices For Commercial Spaces

Commercial carpeting can come in many different styles and designs to match your commercial space and your needs. When it comes to carpet in commercial spaces

there are three ways to do it:

Broadloom carpet is also known as wall-to-wall carpet, and is the most traditional and well-known form of carpet in commercial spaces. This is where commercial carpet is fitted in a continuous form across the floor surface.

Modular carpet is also known as carpet tiles. Modular carpet is durable, easy to install, and easy to replace which makes it ideal for commercial spaces. Carpet tiles or smaller more manageable squares of carpet that are installed seamlessly side by side for a smooth carpet finish.

Area rugs are generally not as popular in commercial settings, although they are common in some business types like premium health care and hospitality. For the most part commercial area rugs are used as centerpieces and design tools in a commercial space, rather than a standalone form of flooring. However commercial area rugs can make an important addition to the ambience and style of a business and should be considered.

Evaluating Your Commercial Space

When deciding on the right carpet choice for your commercial space it’s important to look at the characteristics of the space you’re working with. Evaluating your commercial space is absolutely essential before deciding to install carpet flooring. This is because the function and characteristics of every commercial space is different. Just because carpet works well in one type of commercial space doesn’t mean it will perform as well in a different commercial space. Each commercial space needs to be assessed on its own merits before carpet is installed.

Carpet Tiles & Carpet Squares

Carpet tiles are a great DIY flooring option for your space. If you are looking to add a soft surface to add comfort your floors, Carpet Tile is a great option. Carpet tiles are cut into squares so they are great for odd shapes spaces, since you can easily cut and arrange the pieces. Carpet squares are much easier to install than traditional carpeting, and you can find different installation types like: Peel and Stick, Interlocking or Self Adhesive carpet tiles. If you go for an installation type that is not adhesive, be sure to pick up carpet tape so that you can install them yourself.

Installation:

Carpet squares are much easier to install than traditional carpeting, and you can find different installation types such as: Peel and Stick, Interlocking, Glue down, Adhesive Tabs, or Loose Lay carpet tiles. Self-adhesive carpet tiles are very easy to install, as all you have to do is peel off the adhesive backing and stick the Carpet Tile to the subfloor. Different types of carpet tile can be installed in your family room, bedroom, basement, play room, or outdoors. Outdoor carpet tile can be a great option for your patio or outdoor living room.

Style:

We have a variety of sizes and colors, so you’re sure to find a style that works with your home. Popular colors include light gray, yellow & gold, and blue. You can also find a variety of textures for your carpet, including loop pile, cut pile, or shag carpet tile. Carpet tile comes in a variety of thicknesses including thin, medium, and thick. Many carpet tiles come with padding attached, making the carpet feel more softer and plush under foot.

Cleaning & Care:

Carpet squares are constructed of a variety of synthetic materials like polypropylene or polyester and nylon offer great stain resistant and water resistant properties.Carpet tiles are easy to clean as well. Since many of the squares come with a peel and stick application, you can remove them easily from the subfloor. Once the square is removed, you can either clean or replace the carpet tile.

Carpet tiles are a great option for areas with heavy traffic because they are so easy to clean. Since many of our carpet squares come with a peel and stick application you can take them up for cleaning. The variety of synthetic materials like polypropylene or polyamid and nylon offer great stain resistant and bleach resistant properties.

Best Commercial Carpet

If you’re considering carpet for your new office space, it’s important to choose the right product for your application. According the Carpet Buyers Handbook, “synthetic fibers make up more than 99% of the fiber used by the U.S. carpet industry.” Most carpets used in commercial applications are usually Nylon, Olefin or Polypropylene and are constructed in loop, cut pile (both broadloom) or carpet tile. Each of these fibers has its own set of strengths and weaknesses that can be used to help determine which type of carpet fits your needs.

Things to think about when choosing commercial carpet:

What’s your budget?

When it comes to commercial carpet, pricing can run the gamut. Remember that unlike hard surface flooring, carpet will take a beating and will eventually show wear. It’s helpful to decide how long you want to keep the carpet too, and that may influence your cost decision. If you spend less, you may have to replace it sooner, and if you spend more to get a higher quality product, it will last longer. So it’s important to weigh the cost of replacement against spending a higher amount up front.

What kind of fiber is best for my installation?

Most commercial carpet is made of Nylon, Olefin or Polypropolene. Olefin/Polypropolene carpet is usually the carpet of choice if you are on strict budget. It stands up well to “moderate” amounts of traffic. Analyze how much foot traffic you will have to help determine the level of durability you will need. Olefin/Polypropolene carpets are “solution dyed” so they have very good stain resistance. These carpets also work well in low traffic areas or an office or space that you aren’t in for the long haul.

Nylon, on the other hand, is the highest quality fiber carpet for a commercial installation. It’s more expensive, but it’s also more durable so it will inherently look better longer. Like the Olefin/Polypropolene fiber carpet, Nylon products are solution dyed and offer the same level stain resistance. You will get more bang for your buck with Nylon if you have heavy foot trafficked areas, so spending a bit more may be to your benefit over the life of the carpet.

What kind of maintenance will I need?

Like any floor covering, carpet will need to be taken care of in order to last. Be sure you are familiar with your manufacturer warranties and suggested maintenance instructions in advance.

The Best Flooring For Kitchens

The Best Flooring for Kitchens

The kitchen is one of the most high-traffic areas of the home, with kids and pets tracking in dirt and cooking spills happening on occasion no matter how hard you might try to avoid it. You can experiment all you want with carpet in other rooms where the floor will take less of a beating, but kitchen flooring should be practical above all else.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to forego aesthetics. When looking for suitable flooring for what is arguably the busiest room in the house, we typically recommend materials based on qualities including longevity, durability, and resistance to scratches and the elements for years to come.

Trendy and Low-Maintenance

Vinyl flooring remains the most obvious choice for kitchens, and there are certainly plenty of designs on the market that look suitably hip while remaining strong enough to withstand water stains, spills, dirt, and grime.

Sleek and Traditional

If you have perused any home décor blogs recently, you might have been wondering why on earth so many families have chosen wood flooring for their kitchen. The reality is that they’ve most likely opted for wood-look tile flooring, a very trendy alternative to the timeless appearance of simple white or grey tile.

With a variety of textures, colors, and woodgrains to choose from, you can create the illusion of untainted hardwood in your kitchen and maintain a clean cooking and living space in your home for years to come.

Why Did Anyone Think Carpet in the Bathroom Was a Good Idea?

Look, you think a lot of crazy things when you’re a kid, and I now know that my love for carpet in the bathroom was categorically wrong. Having never lived in a home with carpet in the bathroom, I dismissed my mother’s concerns about mildew as those of a person not sufficiently committed to cutting-edge design. I now realize that carpet in the bathroom was just one of the many things about which my mother eventually turned out to be right.

These days, most people have come to their senses regarding the carpet in the bathroom situation. On a recent Reddit thread, one user asked: People of Reddit with carpet in their bathrooms, why? No one had anything good to say about this. There was one user who admitted that “It’s comfy,” but they still blamed their home’s previous owners for the wall-to-wall

But the question remains: why did anyone think this was a good idea to begin with? This Retro Renovation interview about the history of carpet, although it doesn’t specifically mention bathrooms, sheds a little light on the issue. Up until that point, wall-to-wall carpeting was an indulgence that was out of the reach of the average American family. Changes in carpet-making technology and post war prosperity led to a boom in its use, but carpet still retained those feelings of luxury and newness. What could be more luxurious than adding carpet to a humble space like the bathroom? And if you could, for a second, ignore the possibility of mold, doesn’t sinking your toes into a nice plush bathmat that covers your entire bathroom sound kind of nice?

Though they may be few and far between, carpet in the bathroom does have its modern-day adherents. When an Apartment Therapy poll asked readers to vote on carpet in the bathroom, most of you were overwhelmingly opposed, but about 8% (26 people, to be exact) were in favor.

While it seems everything ’70s is making a comeback these days, this is one trend I don’t see returning anytime soon. But hey, everyone has weird things that make them happy—you might be in the minority for loving your carpeted bathroom, but you are most certainly not alone.

TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORING

WHAT TYPE OF HOME DO YOU LIVE IN?

The type of residence will significantly influence the flooring type and installation method you need. In a single-family home, the subfloor will dictate the type of floor you can install. In a condominium, your condo owner’s agreement usually has rules regarding soundproofing which have to be considered. In a basement, an engineered floor will be your preferred option.

HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN YOUR HOME?

The more people there are, the greater the traffic and the more durable your finish needs to be. If you have young children or pets, choose a textured hardwood floor or one with character and color variation. Matte finishes also tend to minimize the appearance of dents and scratches.

WHAT KIND OF FURNITURE IS IN THE ROOM, AND WHAT STYLE OF DÉCOR?

Is there already wood in the room? Are there a lot of furnishings, or just a few? What shades are they? In a new home, the ambiance you’re looking for will largely influence your choice of color, wood species, grade, finish, board width, and direction.

WHAT TYPE OF FLOORING IS RIGHT FOR YOUR ROOM?

The right type of flooring for you depends on the room where it will be installed. Various floor types are available according to your needs: Engineered wood, Lock engineered wood, engineered wood Trubalance and solid wood. See a dealer for advice on choosing a floor.

WHAT ROOMS ARE YOU PLANNING TO FLOOR?

Sketch out the rooms where you want to install your hardwood floor.  Indicate the areas of the rooms and make note of stairways, closets, and any obstacles that will require special fitting. Find out what kind of subfloor you have and in what direction the joists run. Remember that engineered flooring is the best choice for basements.

What is the best hardwood floor for my room?

To ensure you select the best hardwood flooring that matches your lifestyle, budget and home design, take time to compare different hardwood floor types. Talk with an expert at your local Carpet One Floor & Home store to learn more about which type of hardwood flooring would best work in your space.

When choosing the best hardwood flooring for your room, you have the option to choose between standard hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood.

Traditional or solid hardwood flooring consists of single strips of wood. The biggest benefit to solid hardwood is that it can easily be customized, sanded, and re-stained to change finishes as your styles change.

Engineered hardwood planks come in many colors and wood types, just like solid wood. However, engineered hardwood is made by laminating 3-5 strips together, with grains running at different angles. Engineered Hardwood is more structurally sound so it can be installed in areas where solid wood flooring might not be an option, for example, moist basements. Engineered Hardwood is also typically less expensive and tends to be more water-resistant compared to traditional solid wood floors.

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Hardwood Flooring for Your Home

There are different types of flooring from hardwood, stone, vinyl to carpet and terrazzo. Hardwood is considered a high-quality option for its characteristics. It is durable and resistant to dust and debris. It can also last a lifetime if properly maintained. All hardwood is not created equal and choosing the best flooring is not a matter of colour preferences or aesthetics alone. Hardwood allows plenty of scope for creativity with different finishes, textures, and hardness ratings for the chosen flooring. Natural wood is versatile and perfect for every room in your home, except for basement and bathroom.

Origin of hardwood flooring

Way before the discovery of the New World, the Royals were the first to enjoy wooden flooring. Back then, the procedure of acquiring hardwood was time-consuming and laborious. They were hand-scraped and sanded. Wooden flooring became increasingly common during the Colonial Era. During 1800-1945, wood flooring was widely used and came from local species of trees. They were assembled in the simplest manner. However, after World War II, hardwood flooring experienced a decline in demand as cheaper flooring alternatives were introduced. The demand for hardwood flooring has revived in recent times for its sophistication and timeless appeal.

Making of solid hardwood floorboards

The trees are cut into logs and depending on the quality, their usage is determined. The planks are made from single wood piece and levelled first. Tongue and groove edges are cut using respective machines. Logs with tight grain and fewer knots are used for cutting out planks for flooring. There are different varieties of cutting methods that create different grain patterns. The logs are cut into three main patterns- rift sawn, quarterly sawn, and plain sawn. The final product can have different types of finish or can be left unfinished as well which has a different appeal.

Types of finishes

Hardwood flooring can be pre-finished, or site finished. There are different types of finish for hardwood and each finish has certain benefits and characteristics. From oil penetrates, oil-like hybrids, to site finished polyurethane and prefinished UV cured urethane finish, the choices are varied.

Oil penetrates imparts a soft, matte and natural look to the wood planks. While it is comparatively more prone to scratches, the scratches on such floorboards are less noticeable. Soft oil finish is easier to maintain, and you can touch up the problematic areas on a spot-by-spot.

Flooring Buying Guide

Installing a new floor is one of the more expensive home improvement projects you’ll undertake. With so many choices—hardwood, laminate, engineered wood, vinyl, tile—where do you begin?

Budget is certain to factor into your decision. But you should also consider how much foot traffic, sunlight, and wear and tear your flooring will endure

For example, some engineered woods, along with a few solid wood types of flooring, aren’t as resistant to moisture as vinyl or laminate flooring—a serious drawback in a bathroom or busy kitchen. Porcelain tile would be a better choice for durability, but it can be expensive and requires labor-intensive installation

How We Test Flooring

We test wear resistance by subjecting a 6×6-inch sample of each flooring material to an abrasion machine fitted with a fine sandpaper disc, and assessing each sample for signs of visible wear after each cycle of sanding.

Types of Flooring

Most flooring falls into one of the following six types. The type you choose will depend on your needs and budget—not to mention your personal style and aesthetic.

Buyer’s Guide to Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are beautiful, durable, and easy to clean. These benefits come at a higher price than other hard-surface flooring options, but the longevity and style of wood flooring can be worth it.

Hardwood floors come in a range of styles and species. There are strips, planks, and parquet styles, and colors ranging from gray to deep red, depending on the species and stain you choose. Since there are so many options, there’s something out there to suit almost any space and taste.

Solid hardwood vs. engineered hardwood

When you’re shopping, you’ll need to choose between solid and engineered hardwood.

Traditional hardwood flooring, or solid hardwood, comes in planks of solid wood. Solid hardwood floors can be refinished multiple times. While more costly than engineered hardwood, being able to refinish the floor will make it last longer

Engineered hardwood has a layer of hardwood on top of other materials that are designed to restrict the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. Engineered hardwood looks great and has a lower price than solid hardwood, but it can’t always be refinished like solid hardwood can, depending on the thickness of the top hardwood layer.