An Interview with our Expert: Choosing the Right Carpet for You
Our flooring expert, Paul.
Here at the Sussex Home Stylist, we are lucky enough to work with some of the finest tradespeople in Sussex. Over the years we have found the very best, who are able to deliver a great level of skill and expertise to bring our designs and projects to life. It enables us to be able to offer a full end to end service from the design, right through to the building, decorating, plastering, electric and plumbing, and finally decoration and styling.
Our carpet and flooring expert Paul works with us and our clients to make sure we’re getting the very best flooring for our budget. So we thought we’d ask Paul to share with us some of the basic information you might need if you’re thinking of updating your flooring or choosing a new carpet.
What are the most popular types of carpet and why?
The most popular carpet is probably a Polypropylene (man made) carpet. It’s a good choice for most as it has a cut pile giving it a level of cosiness but a fairly short tight pile making it hard wearing. It’s also the most hardy carpet for families. You can scrub or bleach a polypropylene carpet, removing all stains and leaving no residue behind. I’ve had clients who have easily removed lipstick and eyeliner from a carpet that if it was wool, it would probably have been ruined. Polypropylene carpets come in a number of different finishes, styles and colours
What are the best carpets for the environment?
Carpets made of natural fibres are best for the environment. ‘Carpet made from natural, renewable fibres tend to be the most environmentally friendly and include sisal, seagrass, coir, organic cotton, jute, organic wool and bamboo. The materials used to create these carpets are biodegradable and don't require a lot of fertilizer and pesticides to produce. (Treehugger.com). Wool carpets are a better choice if you’re looking for an eco-friendly option. Just make sure that the wool used to make the carpet has been sourced ethically and humanely.
Paul fitted the carpet in our Lewes Crescent Project
It wasn’t easy to fit carpet on the Mezzanine but he did it!
Design comes to life: Carpet fitted, client delighted.
What carpets are suitable for each room in the house? Should I use the same carpet the whole way through my home?
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to what carpet to choose, but a hardwearing choice is better for high traffic areas like a hall, landing or stairs. I often recommend a loop pile. A shorter, tighter pile is usually better for stairs. In living rooms and bedrooms people often decide to have longer deeper piles of twist or saxony for a more luxurious feel.
Why should you invest in a good underlay and why is it so important?
A better quality underlay has a few benefits. They usually have better thermal values as well as lengthening the life of the carpet. So in the long run it’s a money saver for sure. We’re all talking about our expensive heating bills and a good underlay is a great way of insulating your flooring. Downstairs in particular can absorb quote a lot of cold from the ground beneath so the underlay helps to keep that out and hold the temperature of your room for longer.
How long would it take to install a carpet? Do different types of carpet take longer to fit?
Landings and stairs take longer to fit than rooms as there is a lot more involved. It is always better to have a room completely empty for fitting as it is quicker and easier to fit and stretch evenly, That said I’m very used to fitting carpets where that just isn’t an option, We’re used to working around things but its definitely considerably faster to fit a carpet in an empty room. It’s worth considering when you’re project managing any interior design project. It’ll save you time which will also save you money.
What should I be asking my carpet fitter to make sure I get the best price and best quality carpet and underlay?
The best thing you can do is find a carpet fitter who comes with a personal recommendation. This is by far the best way to ensure a competitive price and good workmanship. Ask your local friends or family to recommend someone or ask in your local Facebook groups. I would recommend asking to see previous customers' testimonials and if possible photos of the work they’ve done.
Would you recommend a different type of carpet for people with pets?
I would recommend people with pets stick to Polypropylene (man made) carpet. With dogs it doesn't matter as much which type but if you have cats its best to avoid loop pile carpets. While as a general rule loop pile carpets are very hard wearing, cats tend to use them as a claw toy and pull at them fraying the pile.
Should people with lots of allergies have different types of carpet?
Wool carpets are best for people with allergies as the wool absorbs allergens. The next best is Nylon. The advantage of nylon is that they are generally cheaper than wool and also more resistant to things like moisture, mildew and dirt.
How would I clean my carpet? Could you recommend any products to get rid of stains?
Polypropylene carpet is the best for cleaning as it is bleach cleanable but other fibres can also be cleaned too. It’s best to check with manufacturers for specific directions for each product. If you’re stuck with a stain and no instructions you could try mixing a solution of washing powder and warm water and gently using a wet wipe dipped in the solution to clean the stain.
How often should I change my carpet?
All carpets will come with a guarantee period. Most carpets should at least last that length, usually 10 or 15 years, but it totally depends on who’s living in the house. Families can be much harder on flooring than just couples for example. Sometimes in high traffic areas carpets can wear out sooner. Often people are simply re-decorating and want a change. If that’s the case and your carpet is still in good condition I encourage my clients to recycle their carpet using local selling sites. We shouldn’t be wasting good quality flooring.
How should my carpet fitter be charging for the work? Is it by the hour?
It’s hard to give specific pricing details as there are many factors involved, such as sizing, choice of carpet etc. Generally, carpet and fitting are charged by the square metre not by time. Personally, I manage to keep costs down by having lower overheads such as not having a shop, so that I can pass on those discounts to my customers. If you work out the price based on a square metre cost it’s the easiest way to compare prices if you’re comparing quotes.
If you have any questions please leave them below and Paul will be happy to answer them. And if you’re looking to start a new project in your home, drop us a line, we’d love to help. Find out more about us here, view some of our project work or hear what our lovely clients have said about our work.