Things to think about

when buying new carpet.

Carpet Seams. If your room is over 12’ or 15’, (depends on the carpet you choose), you will have seams. We will review with you how the carpet will be installed. Where possible, seams should be away from windows where falling light may exacerbate the seams. Seams should be avoided in high traffic walk ways such as corridors and doors; and if carpet is being installed in joining rooms, the carpet’s direction of manufacturing should be the same throughout the house.

Invest in a good underpad as this is an essential piece of your new carpet. Ask us about the type of underlay best suited to the carpet and your installation. A good underlay will improve foot comfort, absorb crushing forces, overcome minor imperfections in the floor, and improve thermal and acoustic properties. If you are replacing your carpet, don’t be tempted to use the existing underlay. It will have the same wear patterns that appear in your old carpet and these will quickly resurface in a new carpet. Carpet manufacturers’ warranties also require their products be installed over new underlay.

Keep a record of the invoice (which will detail the product name/colour/manufacturer), the type of underlay, any warranty information as well as a small piece of unused carpet.

Choose the best carpet for each room. For example, stain-resistant products may be worth the splurge in your busy family room, but more affordable low-traffic carpeting may be just fine for your guest rooms.

We recommend that you take home carpet samples to examine them in natural light before you buy.

Demolition/disposal of old floor covering. Depending on the existing floor covering, this can be an additional expense (ie. removal of ceramic tile).

Sub-floor preparation. Depending on the condition of the sub-floor, it may require additional work.