About Carpet

Carpeting offers more colors and textures than anything else you can put underfoot. Compare the fibers to determine the one that best fits your needs, and ask your carpet dealer about the density of the fiber or pile. The more fibers per square inch, the longer the carpet life.

Most carpeting sold is tufted or "jute-backed," meaning the yarn is pulled through a woven backing and an additional backing is added for strength and stability.

Carpeting is sold by the square yard in widths of 9, 12, and 15 feet. To compute square yards, divide the square footage by 9. Take a drawing of your room to a carpet salesperson, who can figure the exact yardage requirements.

A good pad prolongs carpet life and insulates against noise and cold. Avoid felt in high-humidity areas and avoid rubber over radiant-heated floors.

Integral-pad carpeting is bonded to a cushioned backing. It's skid-proof, mildew-proof, and ravel-proof, which means you can lay it directly over a concrete basement floor. Installation is easy. Indoor/outdoor carpeting also can be laid without a pad.

Get free quotes from local carpet installation professionals.