Carpet 101

From sumptuous pastel plush to rugged Berber tweeds, carpeting is a universally popular floor covering. Broadloom has long been synonymous with comfort and luxury, but in today’s eclectic room schemes, broadloom carpeting is just one of numerous soft options for a high-fashion floor.

Before you buy carpets at one of our American Flooring locations, study our samples at home, and remember that the color of a room-size carpet will be more intense than the samples.

Carpet Styles

Materials and construction give carpeting inherent virtues that may suit your decorating needs. Whether you want the durability of Berber, the plush feel of frieze, the practicality of textured carpets, or the bold statement of a patterned carpet, our popular selection of styles offers the perfect blend of style and functionality for any space.

• Broadloom carpet’s sweep of color and underfoot comfort give any room- even sparely set ones-a more “furnished” feeling.
• Colors can work magic, too. For example, a light hue visually expands a small space, and a dark one cozies up a large room. Carpet in a sunny color can visually warm a room short on natural light.
• Broadloom absorbs sound, an appealing feature for condominiums, town houses, and homes with high ceilings.
• Yarn construction and surface texture add soft contrast to a room’s angular architecture.
• As versatile camouflage, broadloom goes over any existing floor, with no need for a new sub-floor, and it hides uneven surfaces and existing floor damage.
• Today, carpet is available with soil, stain, odor, and static-resistant features and manufacturing techniques have increased its durability and ability to be cleaned.

Area Rugs

American Flooring can create a custom are rug made from any of our carpets, designed to perfectly fit the look of your room. Stop into one of our showrooms to see the many style and textures available for your next area rug.

Try our Karastan Rug Maker

Top Brands Including Shaw and Mohawk Carpet

Along with a wide variety of styles, colors, and textures to choose from, you also have an array of options when it comes to high-quality carpeting brands. Some of the more popular brands include Mohawk, Queen Carpets, Gulistan, Shaw, and Mannington carpet.

Things to know before laying down money or carpet.

It just makes sense that, the more you know about something, the better able you are to make a smarter purchase decision. That goes in spades for buying carpet. Information about the construction of carpet is good, but knowledge about carpet specifics and characteristics, about its traits and subtle differences, can be invaluable.

What carpet should I get?

Choosing the best carpet is really about knowing the right combination of characteristics, aesthetics, performance and budget to best meet the needs of your lifestyle. Consider the style, color, cushion, backing, pile density, warranty, and total cost of ownership. Keep in mind your daily activities and decorating habits, and how they will impact each characteristic of your carpet purchase.

For example, looped Berbers and high twist friezes perform wonderfully in high traffic areas in your home, but an elegant Saxony carpet in the same area may show footprints. Isn’t that good to know?

We want you to know all the important carpet facts, and we’ve created this section specifically for that purpose. Our goal is to help you get smart before your carpet is laid down — and long before you lay down your money. So, we invite you to read on, check out these notes, tips and considerations and get the upper hand on the flooring that may soon be underfoot. It just makes sense that, the more you know about something, the better able you are to make a smarter purchase decision.

Will carpet seams go away?

Carpet is available in 12’, 15’ and sometimes 13’6″ widths. Unless the room to be carpeted is narrower than these widths, the carpet will be seamed. With looped or low-profile patterned carpet, you may have visible or peaked seams. The degree of their visibility depends on texture, color, lighting and furniture placement.

A note on backing and loops.

Be aware that, as carpet bends over stairs, its backing may show depending on texture, color and density. Plus, you should know that looped carpet can snag, particularly at a seam or at a carpet transition.

Why does my carpet look shaded in some spots?

The nap of all carpets runs in one direction. Pile reversal, or shading, is a normal characteristic of many cut pile style carpets. This can be particularly apparent with plush carpet. If this becomes an issue, consider furniture placement as a way to minimize this effect.

What is the most durable carpet?

Higher quality carpet will typically have greater pile density, and tighter twist construction, which will result in better durability. Keep an eye out for more dense, tight carpeting for higher durability.

Is carpet a good value?

It’s easier to replace or update a home’s décor with carpet compared to other hard surface products. Dollar for dollar, carpet offers significant styling advantages, and adds value to any home. Carpet also feels warm underfoot and reduces household noise, providing valuable benefits.

What color carpet should I get?

Neutral colors are the best choice if you expect to frequently change the decorating scheme, or if you’re trying to incorporate a lot of existing furniture. Using a neutrally colored, good quality carpet is a good idea if the home will be resold any time soon. It’s easier for a prospective buyer to imagine their furniture in a room that is decorated with neutral colors. That being said, color can also change the entire look of a room.

Does my carpet’s warranty cover stains?

Stain protection is an important consideration in any carpet purchase. Carpet products come with different stain protection levels and warranties that help guard your carpet against stains. As you increase the quality of carpet, stain protection also typically increases, as does the manufacturer's warranty coverage. With this in mind, it is important to understand exactly what is covered by the warranty of your specific carpet, as warranties vary.

One more important note about carpet cushion.

Understand that carpet cushion is sold using quality specifications, not color specifications. The color of the sample you see in the store may not be the same color as the carpet cushion installed in your home. The label makes for valuable reading. Be sure to become familiar with all the product specifications and warranty coverage on the back labels of the carpeting you’re purchasing. Doing so will protect your investment today and tomorrow.

Color rules to keep in mind:

Once a carpet is installed in a new home, it will often look lighter than the sample you saw in the store. This is a natural optical effect and you should be aware of this when making a carpet color selection.

The color of carpet also affects the apparent size of the room. Lighter colored carpet will visually expand the size of the room. Darker carpeting will seem to bring the walls closer together, and create a more intimate feeling.

What is the softest carpet?

It’s actually carpet cushion, not the carpet itself, that determines how a carpet feels beneath your feet. For this reason, one of the most important considerations in choosing the right carpet for your home has to do with where you can’t see – beneath the surface of the carpet. Carpet cushion, the layer of material that lies between the carpet and floor, can make the difference between a good feeling carpet and a great one.

However, carpet cushion isn’t just about feel. If you’re asking yourself, “how do I maintain my carpet?” you’re probably not considering the steps you can take before the carpet is laid. A quality carpet cushion helps preserve the look of the carpet, and can even extend the life and comfort of a carpet, providing it with tougher protection against wear and tear.

How much does carpeting cost?

The “cost per square foot” of your carpet is just one component of the entire project cost. To ensure there are no surprises, and the carpeting you select fits within your overall project budget, be sure to ask us to calculate the total cost of your floor covering project. Here’s a list of potential additional expenses you may incur:

• Furniture removal/replacement.
• Demolition/disposal of old floor covering. Depending on the existing floor covering, this can be an expensive item; also, be sure to include the cost to dispose of the old floor covering.
• Sub-floor preparation. Depending on the condition of the sub-floor, it may require additional work.
• Carpet installation. Determine the cost per square foot to install it.
• Materials required to complete the installation. Your new carpet may require additional materials to install it properly.

In addition to the total project cost, you should also know the cost of annual cleanings to maintain the beauty and life of your new carpet. We can help you answer those questions, but be sure to also consult the manufacturer’s warranty and care guide for directions on how frequently the carpet should be cleaned and the cost to clean it.

What to know and do before your carpet is installed:

Now that you've chosen the perfect carpet for your home let's ensure a smooth installation process. Being prepared for your carpet installation saves you time, minimizes disruption, and ensures a stress-free experience for you and your family.

Professional installers have the experience to make the process efficient and stress-free for you.

Before our crews arrive, remove all furniture and other objects and materials from the areas to be carpeted. Our installers will move your furniture, but there may be an additional charge for doing so. If we are moving your furniture, you will need to empty the contents of the furniture. We do not disconnect and reconnect electronics such as computer, TV etc.

If you prefer to remove your present floor covering, do it at least one day prior to installation to allow for cleanup and floor preparation. If removing old carpet, please leave tack strips in place and pull the staples out of the floor from the original pad.

Seams are unavoidable, but our installers use their expertise to make them nearly invisible. However, some carpet styles, like low-cut piles, may show seams more readily. Even a well-made seam might still be slightly visible. In rare cases, additional carpet might be needed for perfect pattern matching, resulting in a slight cost adjustment.

Our installers are experts at minimizing transitions when meeting other flooring types. They'll strive to match surface heights for a seamless look.

What to know and do before installation day:

Consider your options regarding the trim

Painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete. If necessary this is your responsibility.

Be prepared with a door plan

New carpet can sometimes affect how interior doors swing. Our installers will try their best to rehang the doors after installation. However, in rare cases, doors might require trimming by a qualified professional.

Be clear about the clean-up

Installing new carpet will produce waste. Your installer will leave you with any sizable scraps for future repairs if material is available.

Usually these materials are collected by your installer and left at your trash collection site. Check with us before the day of installation, so you’re clear about the cleanup, if there are added costs to do so, and ask about the plan for carpet remnants.

What to know and do during installation day:

Installation day requires your presence.

Be prepared to be at home the day of installation and be available in case the installation crew has questions. Your presence will ensure that the correct carpet is installed in the right areas. Because it is difficult to estimate the length and circumstances of each job, some installers may not be able to give you an exact time of arrival. We suggest you be flexible and keep in touch with your retailer/installers.

Keep your family safe

The installation process involves tools and techniques that can create a temporary hazard. To ensure everyone's safety, please keep children and pets away from the work area on installation day.

Don’t forget the walkthrough

Before the installation is complete, we recommend a walkthrough with the lead installer. This gives you a chance to ask questions and ensure everything meets your expectations.

What to know and do after installation day:

Be ready to clear the air.

New carpets might have a slight odor for 48-72 hours after installation due to manufacturing processes. Opening windows and using fans will help circulate fresh air and dissipate any lingering smells.

Fixing post-installation problems 

Shedding is a natural part of a new carpet. Frequent vacuuming for the first few days should remove any loose fibers from the carpet’s surface.

Occasionally, small tufts or loops (sprouting) might appear. Simply trim these carefully with scissors to match the carpet surface.

If wrinkles or ripples develop, please contact us for professional re-stretching services.