Mistakes Everyone Makes When Buying Carpet

Buying carpet for your home is a pretty big deal. Not only does it play a significant role in your environment's feel and appearance, but it's not a cheap purchase either. It's a real investment, and it's something you should feel good about. With so many carpet options out there, we understand that finding the right one may feel a bit overwhelming, which in turn may cause you to rush through the process and potentially make some mistakes.

As The Spruce helps point out, there are some main things to look out for when shopping for carpet, such as being knowledgeable on everything from fiber types and face weight, to understanding warranties and what to look for when comparing quotes. We know it may seem daunting, but with some patience (and a few deep breaths), you'll see how the extra effort is truly worth it. Avoid any carpet-buying blunders by familiarizing yourself with these common mistakes.

You'd think that taking measurements of a room for carpet would be easy enough, but it turns out that's not really the case. Figuring out the accurate calculations requires more than simply getting the room's square footage, as many other factors come into play. Don't believe us? Check out The Spruce's guide to measuring for carpet. As you'll be able to see, additional specifications must be accounted for. For example, you have to measure into the middle of a doorway, which adds anywhere from two to six inches to the total room dimension. Then there is the width of the roll of the carpet, which doesn't always clearly correspond with the room's dimensions.

Hey, we're not saying that it's impossible to make the correct calculations, but only that it's quite complex. To avoid running into issues, we recommend passing this task over to the professionals who will ensure you get exactly what you need.

It's important to be realistic when shopping for carpet, and as Lizzo says, the truth can hurt. For example, if you have animals or kids, you should probably choose a different carpet than someone with a more mellow lifestyle who barely has any dirt or foot traffic in their house. According to The Family Handyman, there are a few factors to take into account when deciding what carpet is right for your home. 

For example, carpet style Saxony is appropriate for more formal spaces where there is less foot traffic because it tends to show footprints and even vacuum marks, whereas a Frieze style carpet is extremely durable and can last for 20 years or more. Then there is Looped or Berber, which is known for its elegant appearance but is also much more challenging to clean and repair. Carpet fiber types are another main thing to consider, which we'll dive into next.

Many people think that the higher the face weight of the carpet, the better it is — but that just isn't true! Other factors such as fiber type, fiber twist, density, and overall style play a more significant role in carpet quality. But first, to clarify, a carpet's face weight is different from the carpet's total weight. As The Spruce explains, the face weight is the weight of the carpet pile per square yard, and is measured in ounces. It's the weight of only the fibers, not any additional materials used in the carpet's final construction.

Face weight is a common selling point that retailers hinge on. They play on our natural instinct to assume that the heavier the face weight, the better, so you need to understand the lingo so you don't make an uninformed decision. For example, comparing the face weight of two different carpet styles (such as Berber and Saxony) is like comparing apples and oranges — they're two completely different things! You should only compare face weights when looking at two (nearly) identical carpets. If they have the same fiber, style, and twist, then sure, take a look at the face weights, and it's probably best to go with the heavier one.

We all love a good deal, but don't fall for the trick of a too-good-to-be-true carpet promotion. Whether they promise you an insanely cheap price for the carpet itself or for the installation, chances are you'll encounter some financial surprises down the line that you won't be as excited about.

One user on Reddit shared their experience with a home improvement store's promotion they jumped on. After feeling good about the initial promotion quote, they moved forward with the next step of getting their room measured, after which point the final quote ended up having a nearly 50% price increase. And the saga only continued from there. Colonial Carpet & Flooring explains the initial quote can change depending on the condition of your subflooring, your room's shape, and what kind of padding you choose. So if you get a surprisingly affordable quote, understand that it probably is just a starting quote that doesn't take these factors into account yet.

Many carpets will come with a warranty of some sort, usually with the option to add on more coverage for a fee. When buying a carpet, it's easy to brush off this part of the process, only focusing on choosing the carpet you like and getting it installed. Though it can be grueling to think ahead to what your carpet may be like after a year or two of living with it, it's important to understand your warranty, ask questions, and even shop around for a better one.

If you're unfamiliar with the types of carpet warranties, Floor Factors breaks down some of the most common ones. A quality assurance warranty, or wear warranty, is going to provide minimum protection. This is the one typically already included with your purchase. It will cover major issues, such as your carpet coming unattached from the floor or pieces literally falling apart. It will not cover wear and tear, such as matting or flattening, or pretty much anything that isn't an indication of some sort of malfunction. Then there is an appearance retention warranty, which relates to the original appearance and texture of the carpet (think fraying, untwisted pile fibers). Other popular options include stain and fade warranties, which are self-explanatory. And yet, even if you go with a warrant that covers stains, read the fine print of the conditions because you know things aren't always as good as they seem.

In the same way you shouldn't just assume that a heavier face weight carpet is better than a lighter one, you shouldn't think that just because a carpet is more expensive than it's automatically better quality. Retailers are notorious for jacking up prices, especially if they can alter the names and tack on words like "premium." People fall for marketing tactics like these all the time, and who could blame them? Let's just make sure you don't make the same mistake.

Home furnishing store Millers of Montrose compares cheaper to more expensive carpets across five categories to allow you to understand what you're really getting by spending more (or less) money. Sure, in many cases you pay for what you get, and it's not wildly uncommon for a more expensive option to be better, but what's important is that you know what your money is getting you. If two carpets have the exact same qualifications, then there's no point in paying for the one with the higher price.

A word to the wise: Don't pick your carpet based on appearance alone. We all like pretty things, but buying carpet is a considerable investment, and the look of a carpet may not be enough to warrant a purchase. You should ask yourself many questions before making the big decision, and they go beyond just aesthetics. HGTV points to some key things to consider when making a carpet selection, beginning with what room you'll be putting the carpet in. 

Does the room get heavy foot traffic? Does it have direct access to the outside? There are also color and style aspects to take into consideration. For example, you can make a smaller room appear larger by using a lighter-colored carpet. Or, the fact that you should choose a lighter-colored carpet for rooms that don't get a lot of natural light. Then, of course, cost. Don't worry, though. There are a ton of carpets out there, and we have no doubt you'll find one that you like the appearance of and is right for your home.