Making the Decision to Replace your Carpet


Good quality carpet that has been cared for should last for many years while a cheaper version may need an earlier replacement.

There are several factors to consider before making the leap toward replacing the carpet in your home. Can the carpet be cleaned? A professional cleaning can often give that old carpet a nice face lift. Applying a stain repellent after the carpet has been cleaned will sustain that fresh new look. When a thorough cleaning no longer does the job it is time for a replacement.

Carpet is meant to be an attractive accessory to a room’s décor. The number one reason people replace their carpet is for aesthetics. We want our homes to reflect our personality! The quality and condition of our carpet can make a big statement about our room. Carpets that are worn or have dirty spots cause the carpet to stand out –and not in a good way.

Often time’s carpet is replaced for comfort. A thicker carpet relieves the stress and shock on the soles of your feet as you walk through your home as well as provides a comfortable floor for younger family members to play. Thicker carpet also provides another means of insulation making your heating and cooling system more efficient.

Carpet builds-up dust, hair and dirt. No matter how often the floor is vacuumed these particles are released into the air when we walk or disturb it. Carpet is also replaced to reduce the amount of allergens in the air.

Another indication that your carpet may need to be replaced is if you find the bottoms of your feet getting dirty when you walk on it (like when you walk across an oily parking lot). Your carpet may be full of mold. Mold can form when carpet and padding have been saturated and has not been properly cleaned and dried. Other contributing factors may be a humid climate or having pets in the home. It is important to know that some molds can only be seen if you lift up both the carpet and the padding. Mold is not only gross it can also be unhealthy. So what is the history of your carpet? If you have determined your carpet has mold, and it is relatively old, it may be time to replace it.

Is your carpet showing signs of wear and tear? All types of carpet (particularly long fiber styles) will eventually show signs of wear in high traffic areas such as hallways and doorways. Once carpet starts showing signs of wear it means the carpet itself is damaged (and there is no going back) and in most cases it means the padding is worn out as well. Replacing only the carpet will not improve the appearance –much. If your carpet shows excessive signs of wear and tear you may want to think of replacing it with a high quality carpet that will provide a little more mileage.

If you have determined it is time to replace your carpet it is recommended that you research the different types of flooring prior to attempting installation. A carpet can be replaced with another style or thickness of carpet, vinyl, tile or hardwood flooring.