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Purchasing
carpet can make an individual age a few years. Due to all of the
technical aspects behind carpeting. There are many, many things
you should be aware of, and there are some ask questions to ask
the sales associate you are working with. We have compiled a few
pointers for you to consider next time you a going to buy carpet.
DETERMINING QUANTITY NEEDED:
To determine the approximate quantity of carpet needed: (1) multiply
the length of the room in feet by its width in feet, and (2) divide
that figure by 9 to obtain a measurement in square yards. (3) Add
10% to account for room irregularities such as closets and doorways,
etc. It is always recommended that a professional make final measurements,
as they know how to plan seam placements, work with room irregularities
and account for rooms wider than the 12 feet width that most carpet
manufacturers produce their product to accommodate.
IMPORTANT
REMINDER: Discuss with your carpet retailer or installer
the services that will be provided – such as removal and disposal
of existing flooring, removal of furniture, etc. Make sure you are
aware whether or not there are additional fees for such services.
PERFORMANCE
RATINGS:
Some carpet manufacturers and/or retailers provide a performance
rating (PR) on a carpet’s sample label. Based on a 1 to 5
scale, this rating specifies what the possible change in appearance
will be to a carpet’s surface in a typical high traffic area
during the first year of service in a four-person household. Ratings
range from a 1 --which would signal very severe change -- to a 5
-- signaling no change. Therefore, high traffic areas should require
a high performance rated carpet, while lesser-used areas could use
carpet with a rating of 2 or 3.
Below
are some general guidelines to look for when purchasing carpet with
enhanced performance:
• YARN TWIST: The tighter the twist, the
longer the carpet will perform before crushing and matting.
• SHORTER NAP: The shorter the nap, the longer
the carpet will “look like new.” The higher the yarn
stands above the backing of the carpet the more difficult it is
for the manufacturer to make the carpet crush- and matte-resistant.
• STITCHES PER INCH: The more stitches, or
yarn, per inch, the more crush- and matte- resistant it will be.
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