Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get estimates on removing old carpets and installing new carpeting

When you purchase residential or commercial carpets, you have to consider the cost of removing the old carpeting, if applicable, and installing the new carpeting. Many carpet companies offer these services, for a fee, when you purchase carpeting.

I recommend: Lowe's is a one stop shop for carpeting. This company sells carpeting, including residential and commercial carpet, and padding. It also offers professional installation. RugMedic.com offers carpeting installation. This company offers a discount if you remove the old carpeting material and move furniture out of the room. The price for installing carpet starts as low as $5 per square yard at both of these companies, but it increases if there are obstacles or if it is a complicated installation.

Figure the cost of adding rugs to the decor

Adding rugs to your decor is an easy way to change the look of any room. When you purchase a rug, you should consider ordering a rug pad. These pads keep the rug stationary, which is much safer than a rug that slides around.

I recommend: Rugs Direct is a wholesale rug supplier that offers rugs ranging from $20 to more than $600, depending on the size and style. This company offers a varied selection of rugs, including eco-friendly rugs. It also sells rug padding and matching tapestries for most of the rugs. SelectRugs.com sells area rugs, with prices starting at around $40, from a variety of rug companies. This company offers discounted prices and free shipping on all of the rugs.

Think about the cost of cleaning the carpets and rugs

One of the expenses that people rarely think of when purchasing new carpets and rugs is the cost of keeping them clean. While regular cleaning is a do it yourself job, carpet manufacturers recommend professional cleanings at least once a year.

I recommend: Sears and Stanley Steemer are flooring cleaning specialists. Both of these companies offer online carpet cleaning quotes and scheduling. Stanley Steemer offers portable cleaning to accommodate people who need carpets on upper floors or in hard to reach locations cleaned. The minimum charge at either of these companies ranges from $99 to $199 depending on your location.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get written estimates for removing, installing or cleaning carpets. You can use these to compare services and possibly get a discount on the services by showing a company's estimate to another company.

Guide to Commercial Carpets and Rugs

Select commercial carpets and area rugs for durability and looks.

By Selena Chavis, Owner, SC Communications, LLC

1. The benefits of various commercial carpet options.
2. How area rugs can play both an aesthetic and practical role.
3. Tips for finding wholesale carpets and discount area rugs.
4. Best practices for maintaining carpets and rugs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make the best choice in commercial carpets

A number of important considerations go into choosing commercial carpet for an office or other public space. The most important consideration is durability since commercial carpets typically face heavy-duty daily wear. The higher the traffic area, the more durable the commercial carpet you'll need. Frieze, multi-level loop or level loop constructed carpets tend to hold up better to wear and tear.

I recommend: Mohawk Industries offers numerous commercial carpet lines such as Karastan, Durkan and Bigelow with many styles and options for durability. Shaw is another leading manufacturer of commercial carpets.

Consider the practical and aesthetic uses of area rugs

Areas rugs can add a dramatic look or a warm inviting touch to reception areas and offices. Adding area rugs to high traffic areas can also reduce wear and tear on commercial carpets

I recommend: For custom area rugs, try Build-A-Rug. Addarug.com and the Winchester Carpet & Rug Company’s Rugs Direct offer hundreds of styles of area rugs, many suitable for commercial wear and tear. Consider Lowe's or Home Depot for more economical choices.

Clean and maintain commercial carpets and rugs

A solid maintenance program for carpets and rugs should include regular vacuuming and cleaning. Hiring professional cleaning services is the wisest choice for maintaining your investment in carpets and rugs.

I recommend: For smaller businesses with budget constraints, Business.com offers a listing and guide to carpet cleaning equipment and supplies.

Find the best options for purchasing wholesale carpets and discount area rugs

Commercial carpets and rugs can be purchased via a number of methods including wholesale from the manufacturer, discounted through third-party distributors or via retail outlets.

I recommend: A number of outlets are available in Dalton, Georgia — the carpet capital of the world — for buying wholesale carpets and discount area rugs including Executive Carpet, American Carpet Wholesalers, and Georgia Carpet Industries.

Consider how commercial carpet color will affect overall aesthetics

Characteristics such as lighting and room size can have a dramatic effect on the commercial carpet color you choose.

I recommend: Get suggestions from interior design experts. Light colored commercial carpets help create spacious effects, making the room appear to be larger but will show more soil than dark colors. Choose dark colors to give rooms a warmer appeal. Remember that carpet colors have also been shown to create certain moods or evoke certain emotions.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider carpet fibers that provide a good fit for commercial carpets. Nylon carpet fibers offer the best value, performance and ease of maintenance. Olefin carpets are highly resistant to stains, static, mold and mildew.
• •  Choose custom area rugs to complement an existing business image or to jazz up your décor.
• •  Avoid soil buildup and staining by vacuuming commercial carpets and rugs regularly - at least several times a week or daily in high-traffic areas.

Action Steps
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Find supplies to use under your carpets and rugs

If you want your carpet to last, the padding you choose is an important aspect. Think about the amount of padding needed, as well as the type of padding you want for your carpet. Allergy free padding or odor eliminating padding are two of the specialty padding products available. You can also invest in rug padding to provide some cushion for your rugs. This padding helps keep your rugs in place on the floor.

I recommend: Quality Carpet Cushion rates their carpet padding based on density, performance rating and comfort. Rug Studio offers a varied selection of rug padding you can use on carpet and wood floors. This company offers discounted prices, free shipping and a 30-day return policy.

Find the right installation supplies for carpets and rugs

Gathering all of the right carpeting supplies ahead of time ensures that you can complete the project as efficiently as possible. You will need numerous installation supplies, including a knee kicker, carpet stretcher, utility knife and a seam roller. When you install area rugs, you may need adhesive or tack strips to hold them securely in place.

I recommend: Floorcoveringtools.com has an easy to navigate website that makes it easy to find installation supplies for carpets and rugs. Home Depot offers a full line of supplies necessary for installing carpets and rugs, including tack strips and knee kickers. Additionally, you can find a checklist of carpeting installation supplies and detailed instructions on installing flooring, including carpeting and rugs, in the Home Depot do-it-yourself center.

Use appropriate cleaning supplies for carpets and rugs

Once your carpeting and rugs are installed, keeping them clean helps them to look nice and keeps them sanitary. Purchasing products manufactured for carpets and rugs is the best way to do this.

I recommend: Parish Maintenance Supply and Protect Carpet Cleaning both offer carpet cleaning supplies and tips on carpet care and cleaning. Parish Maintenance Supply also sells carpet cleaning equipment. Protect Carpet Cleaning offers soap and surfactant free cleaning agents, including stain removers.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider having your carpets and rugs professionally cleaned at least once a year to maintain them.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pile

Pile refers to the fiber height on the walking surface of a carpet or rug. Carpet pile is available in three categories arranged by texture, density and patterns: cut, loop and cut and loop.

I recommend: Post Road Carpet defines pile and describes the different types of carpet pile.

Padding or underlay

Carpet padding, sometimes referred to as underlay, is a rubber mat used under carpets to both protect against wear and increase the softness of the carpet. Carpet padding usually comes in either flat or waffle styles.

I recommend: Find a detailed description of padding and the styles used at Flooring and Carpets.

Binding and serging

Binding refers to a carpet edge that's been sewn or stitched for decorative or protective reasons. Serging refers to a method of binding using heavy yarn and a certain type of stitching.

I recommend: Edwards Floor Covering describes both carpet binding and serging and provides pictures.

Ply or yarn ply

Carpet or rug surface areas are made up of yarn. How many individual yarns are twisted together to produce the surface of a carpet or rug is referred to as ply, or yarn ply.

I recommend: Antron provides a description of ply, accompanied by an illustration of how the yarn is twisted together.

Tackless or tack strip

Called both tackless or tack strip, this is a thin strip of wood with tacks pointing up from it. These strips are nailed along the edges of the floor to hold the carpet in place.

I recommend: Hometime Video Publishing describes what a tack strip is and how to install one.

Pile crush

Pile crush refers to a flattening or crushing of the pile yarn of a rug or carpet. This usually occurs in areas where the rug or carpet gets the most traffic.

I recommend: Find a description of pile crush and how to treat it at The Carpet and Rug Institute.