Carpet Resource Guide (Find Your Carpet)
Updated: Jun 4
Carpet Resource Guide (Find Your Carpet)
The carpet resource guide is the quickest and best source to find your residential carpet style and color, as well as where you can find a local floor covering retail store that sells your carpet. The carpet resource guide also provides full carpet warranties of the major carpet manufacturers and products. The carpet resource guide is a simple and quick resource tool to research different carpets.
Carpet Resource Guide (Find Your Residential Carpet)
JUMP TO YOUR INTEREST
Carpet Manufacturer Website Links Videos That Are Worth Watching
Carpet Manufacturer Warranty Links Finding A Local Store
Carpet Manufacturer Cleaning Links Selecting The Right Carpet
Carpet Manufacturer Social Media Links Selecting The Right Carpet Type
Selecting The Right Carpet Fiber The Green Label Plus Program
Selecting The Right Cushion Frequently Asked Questions
MOHAWK FLOORING
Name Website Warranty Cleaning Find A Retailer
Mohawk Mohawk Available Available Local Store
Karastan Karastan Available Available Local Store
Godfrey Hirst Godfrey Hirst Available Available Local Store
SHAW FLOORS
Name Website Warranty Cleaning Find A Retailer
Shaw Shaw Available Available Local Store
Anderson Tuftex Anderson Available Available Local Store
ShawMark ShawMark Available Available Local Store
Caress Caress Available Available Local Store
DIXIE GROUP
Fabrica Fabrica Available Available Local Store
Masland Masland Available Available Local Store
Dixie Home Dixie Home Available Available Local Store
ENGINEERED FLOORS
Name Website Warranty Cleaning Find A Retailer
DreamWeaver DreamWeaver Available Available Local Store
Dwellings Dwellings Available Available Local Store
EF Multifamily Multifamily Available Available Local Store
Smart Squares Smart Squares Available Available Local Store
OTHER BRANDS
Name Website Warranty Cleaning Find A Retailer
Bloomsburg Carpet Bloomsburg Available Available Local Store
Southwind Southwind Available Available Local Store
Daltonian Daltonian Not Available Not Available Not Available
J Mish J Mish Available Available Local Store
Langhorne Langhorne Not Available Not Available Not Available
Marquis Marquis Available Available Local Store
Nourison Nourison Available Available Local Store
Alexander Smith Smith Available Available Local Store
American Showcase American Available Available Local Store
Infinity Infinity Available Available Local Store
Abbey Stainmaster Stainmaster Available Available Local Store
Bigelow Carpet Bigelow Available Available Local Store
Lees Lees Available Available Local Store
Tigressa Tigressa Available Available Local Store
Oath Oath Available Available Local Store
Innovia Innovia Available Available Local Store
Brintons Brintons Available Available Local Store
Credit: Carpet Manufacturing Process
Carpet Resource Guide - Find Your Carpet On Social Media
Name Facebook LinkedIn Houzz Pinterest Instagram
Mohawk Flooring Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page
Shaw Floors Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page
Masland Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page
Fabrica Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page
Dixie Home Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page
Karastan Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page
Godfrey Hirst Visit Page Visit Page N/A Visit Page Visit Page
Anderson Tuftex Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page
DreamWeaver Visit Page Visit Page N/A Visit Page Visit Page
Bloomsburg Carpet Visit Page Visit Page N/A Visit Page Visit Page
Nourison Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page Visit Page
Credit: How To Select The Right Carpet
Carpet Resource Guide - Videos That Are Worth Watching
We recommend the following videos and video channels to help with your carpet buying process (listed in no particular order):
How To Choose The Right Carpet
How To Choose Carpet for Every Room Of The Home
How to Choose Carpet. A Simple Guide to Residential Carpet Textures and Styles
What are the different types of carpet flooring? (and how to choose the best one)
Carpetright | Carpet Buying Guide
Expert Advice- The Basics Of Carpet Fibers
Please note this website contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you choose to buy one of the products we recommend. You can read our full disclosure at the bottom of the page.
Carpet Resource Guide - Finding a Local Store
Not every floor covering store is the same. Retail floor covering stores go out of their way to sell different products than their competition. If you're looking for a specific carpet manufacturer, it is always a good idea to use one of the links above to conduct a local search for that particular carpet type.
If you are simply looking for retail floor covering stores that are close to your home, using the internet yellow pages is a fast and great way to find stores. Simply go to the yellow page website, type in "flooring store," and then type in your city. you will get a complete list of stores, with their address and telephone number.
Retail floor covering stores not only sell different products, but they also have different customer service levels, and different installation crews. Finding a store that provides a high quality of service can sometimes be rather tricky. Let's face it: the last thing you want is to spend good money on carpet, only to have it installed poorly, or to get poor service from a store salesperson.
As a customer, there are certain items you can look for in a store that can give you glues on what type of customer service you can expect to get. Here are some of the key things to look for:
Did someone greet you at the door, or upon entering, did you wonder around on your own for several minutes? A store that demands good customer service will have someone greet you as soon as you enter. If you enter a store and wonder around without getting any help, will this be the type of service you also get when make a purchase?
Is the store well lit and clean, or does it have samples laying all over the place? Pay attention o the cleanliness of a store. It can speak volumes of how that store feels about the details of their business. Do you want installers in your house that leave things in a mess?
What brand of products are in the store? Is there a variety, or is everything from one manufacturer? Stores that have a variety of products can find product solutions for all types of customers. Stores that carry one brand of products, usually only cater to certain price point customers.
How are the sales professionals dressed? Are they well groomed and have on professional attire, or do they look like they just crawled out of bed? Again, you want to deal with a professional store that treats their business in a serious manner.
Credit: What makes a good retail flooring salesperson? Sergenian's Q&A
Carpet Resource Guide - Selecting The Right Carpet
Before starting your carpet buying adventure, you should ask yourself the following questions:
How is the room going to be used?
Will it have heavy or light traffic?
Will the room be the center of activity for family and entertaining?
Is there direct access from outside, or will the carpet be away from entrances?
Will the carpet receive direct sunlight? (source: Carpet & Rug Institute)
These are al important items to fully understand. When selecting the right carpet, you should begin with the end in mind. Understand "why" you are wanting to get new carpet. What is the goal of the project? Knowing this, will help you not only pick the right material, but it will also help you with saving money on the project. We have a great article, "How To Buy flooring For Your Home," that does a great job of walking you through the entire buying process.
If a room is your interior design canvas, carpet is your paintbrush. It can be neutral, complementing the other visual elements in the room. It can also be a bold, focal point of the room. Because carpet comes in nearly every color imaginable, the choice is yours.
The always-popular beige carpet can make a room look open and spacious. For a bolder statement, you might match your carpet to a common color in your furniture and draperies. Environmental colors, like blues, deep greens, rosy quartz, and stony neutrals are becoming increasingly popular. Warm colors can turn up the heat in a room that lacks light, while cool greens and blues have a calming effect. Lighter colors make the room seem larger; darker colors provide an extra level of comfort.
There are also practical considerations in color selection. New stain and soil-resistant technology make today’s lighter color carpet much easier to clean, allowing for more decorating options. Medium and darker colors, tweeds, and textures are good at hiding soil in your home’s high-traffic areas.
One final consideration: the color of your carpet will look different under different lighting conditions. So make sure to take your samples home and look at them in the correct lighting conditions. Carpet & Rug Institute
We always recommend talking about your project with a local flooring professional. The local floor covering store can help you determine which type of carpet would be best for your project goals.
Another method customers can use to help select the right carpet, is by using the "room visualizer" tool. This is a free tool that most companies have available on their website. Customers can upload a picture of their room, and then insert different carpets in to their room scene. It's a great way for customers to shop at home, without the stress of visiting a store.
Credit: Carpet Resource Guide - How To Choose Carpet
Carpet Resource Guide - Selecting The Right Carpet Type
Part of shopping for carpet, is to understand carpet fibers, and to pick the type of carpet that will be best for your project. Each type of carpet fiber is a little bit different, not only in durability and keeping clean, but also in cost. You don't want to over or under pay for material that will not fit your project goals. We want to thank The Carpet & Rug Institute for providing us with the inspiration for this section of our article.
Cut Pile
Probably the most well known type of carpet, cut pile, comes in a variety of styles and colors. Cut pile carpet, depending on the type of fiber used, can be very durable and stain resistant. It can have different yarn density, as well as twisted yarn (which will help the carpet keep its shape longer). Types of cut pile carpet include:
Textured Plush - This type of carpet is very popular in homes, it is durable, and it helps hide dirt and stains. It also tends to hide vacuum marks, which many homeowners complain about.
Saxony - A traditional style of carpet that works in many homes. Great for more traditional spaces, such as a dining room or living room area.
Frieze - A very hot trend in cut pile carpet. Frieze carpet is very popular in new home construction, as well as remodels. Frieze carpet does a wonderful job of hiding dirt and stains, it can be very durable, and it helps hide footprints.
Plush - This is the old fashion, thick and deep carpet that was incredibly popular several years ago. While plush carpet has that very "luxurious feel," it does show vacuum marks and footprints.
Loop Pile
There are different versions of loop carpeting. Carpet is available with the same height loop carpet, as well as carpet that has different height loops. You can also get a patterned lop carpet that has a specific pattern within each loop. Loop carpeting is very popular in berber carpets and in commercial carpets.
Homeowners that have active pets sometimes avoid this type of carpet, simply because their pets can get caught in the loop yarn, and tear it. Customers that don't have this issue, that are looking for a very durable carpet, might pick a loop carpet for its durability and ability to withstand high foot traffic.
Cut & Loop
This type of carpet combines cut pile and loop carpet, and puts both styles in to one carpet. This gives the carpet a very unique patterned look. Cut & loop carpet is usually very durable, can withstand high foot traffic, and can last a very long time.
Cut & loop carpet is very popular in basements, playrooms and busy rooms that need a durable carpet. Depending on the color selected, cut & loop carpet can also hide dirt and stains better than some of the other carpet styles.
Within these different types of carpet styles, carpet is made with different fibers. The type of fiber used helps give the carpet certain benefits, as well as certain limitations. Once again, you need to understand the different types of carpet fibers, so you pick a carpet that fits your project goals.
Carpet Resource Guide - Selecting The Right Carpet Fiber
Nylon
One of the most popular carpet fibers in the marketplace. and the strongest fiber, nylon continues to be a staple product with most carpet manufacturers. Nylon carpet has the following benefits:
Durable
Static- Free
Easy To Clean
Maintains fiber height
Resists Staining and Dirt
Nylon carpet continues to be the most popular choice for carpet, in both the residential and commercial marketplace. While nylon carpet is moderately priced and should last for a very long time.
Olefin Or Polypropylene
Olefin carpets are very popular in the commercial floor covering world, and are the next best selling carpet fiber type. Some of the benefits of olefin include:
Hold color very well
Mildew & Moisture Resistant
Suitable For High Traffic Areas
Less Expensive
Olefin carpets are not the best when it comes to crushing, and can tend to not old up as well as some of the other carpet fibers. Olefin is a great option for the budget minded customer, that is looking for a nice look carpet that won't break the bank account.
Blends
Carpet is sometimes made with a blend of olefin and nylon. These types of carpet tend to show spills and dirt unevenly, and sometimes end up having durability issues.
Polyester Recycled Carpet Fiber
PET carpets (or Polyethylene Terephthalate) have grown in popularity, and are extremely durable and easy to clean carpets. Many of the primary carpet manufacturers have developed entire product collections made from recycled fibers. PET carpets are very well priced, and come in a variety of styles and colors. For customers interested in the "green movement," PET carpets would be a great option.
Wool
A natural product that is on the expensive side of all carpets. Wool carpets are great for crushing resistance and maintaining its fiber height. Wool is a durable carpet, but it does need some upkeep. Wool can be affected by insects and it does tend to lose some of its color with heavy sunlight. While wool carpeting is still sold, most stores will be limited to 1 or 2 displays.
Credit: What type of carpet is best?
Carpet Resource Guide - Carpet & Rug Institute Green Label Plus Program
Many homeowners are concerned with indoor air quality. Indoor air quality is one of the main questions customers have about installing new carpet. Back in 1992, The Carpet & Rug Institute launched the Green Label Program to test carpets, cushion and adhesives for identifying products that had low VOC emissions.
This is a voluntary program that most carpet manufacturers gladly participate in and support. You can determine if products are part of this program by the green label seal. The Green Label Plus Program has had such a positive impact, according to The Carpet & Rug Institute, the American Lung Association approves of its use in their Healthy Homes Programs.
Customers with breathing issues, asthma, allergies, etc... are encouraged to look for the green label when making a carpet decision. Green Label Plus is the only certified test for low emissions in carpet, cushion and carpet adhesive. According to The Carpet & rug Institute:
Green Label Plus is a voluntary, industry testing program for carpet, adhesive and cushion products that establish the highest standard for indoor air quality (IAQ) ever set by the carpet industry. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) created Green Label Plus to identify carpets, adhesives and cushions that are tested by an independent, certified laboratory and meet stringent criteria for low chemical emissions. Carpet & Rug Institute
Carpet Resource Guide - Selecting The Right Cushion
The last thing a customer should do, is spend good money on carpet, only to buy an inferior carpet cushion. Knowing what type of cushion to purchase is extremely important. We have a great article, "Why You Should Always Buy The Best Carpet Pad," that does a terrific job of walking customers through the carpet pad buying process.
In short, retail floor covering stores make money on selling carpet pad. A lot of money. Don't get fooled in to buying a cheap pad at an inflated price. For carpet, we recommend using a cushion that meets the following guidelines:
Residential Use: Density Thickness
Bonded Pad 6.5 lbs to 8lbs 7/16" to 1/2"
Frothed Foam 10lbs to 12lbs 7/16" to 1/2"
Every store will most likely sell different carpet pads. As a customer, if you stick with the weight and thickness (mentioned above), you should be in good shape. Again, we strongly encourage you to visit our carpet pad article. There is a wealth of information in it, that can assist you in picking out the correct pad at the correct price.
When selecting cushion, check the carpet manufacturer’s requirements for thickness and density. A general rule of thumb for most residential carpet applications is to choose cushion no more than 7/16 inch thick and no less than 1/4 inch with 6 pounds per cubic feet density. If the carpet is a berber or a low profile carpet, choose a cushion no more than 3/8 inch thick with 8 pounds density. Carpet & Rug Institute
Carpet Resource Guide - Frequently Asked Questions
Which company makes the best carpet? There are several different manufacturers of carpet in the United States. Each company makes their version of good, better and best carpets. What is the best carpet for one project might not be the best carpet for another project. It is impossible to say one company is better than all the rest. Customers need to make buying decisions based on the project goals, color & style of the carpet and price.
Should I decide on a carpet while at the store (to take advantage of a special sale)? In short, never. Always, always take the carpet sample home. The light in the store is going to be completely different than what is in the home. If a store is pressuring you to buy without taking the sample home, go to a different store.
When is the best time of the year to buy carpet? Many internet articles will tell you to buy carpet over the holidays months (November/December). Our view is: there is no best time of the year to buy carpet. There is a specific strategy that we recommend that should always result in getting a great price. We have an article, "How To Buy Flooring For Your Home," that we strongly encourage you to read.
What is Mohawk SmartStrand Carpet? You will see Mohawk Flooring samples in most retail floor covering stores. In many stores, you will see large displays of SmartStrand Carpet. It is one of the most popular types of carpet in the marketplace. SmartStrand is an innovation by Mohawk Flooring to develop carpet products that are incredibly durable and stain resistant. For further information on this carpet, we recommend reading our article, "SmartStrand Carpet Cleaning Guide."
Do I need to use a special vacuum cleaner with Mohawk SmartStrand Carpet? Yes, you do. In fact, Mohawk Flooring has a special section on their website that discusses the importance of vacuum cleaners. In the Mohawk Flooring Warranty, a claim could potentially get denied if the wrong type of vacuum cleaner is used. In our article, "SmartStrand Carpet Cleaning Guide," we list all of the Mohawk Flooring approved vacuum cleaners.
What is Shaw R2X Stain & Soil Technology? Many years ago, Shaw Floors introduced this stain protection fiber system, to help prevent dirt and staining on their carpets. Basically, any spill will bead up on the surface of the carpet, as opposed to sinking in to the carpet and carpet pad. Shaw Floors puts this technology on many different carpet styles and colors.
Credit: Shaw Carpet R2X
How much does carpet installation cost? Installation costs vary, depending on what time of work needs to be done. For example, if an installation is simply installing the new carpet (without taking up existing flooring), that will be less expensive that having to do a product removal. A retail floor covering store should visit the home and look firsthand at the project to determine the installation costs.
Has the number of carpet manufacturers gotten smaller? Yes, it has. While the market share of floor covering products remains somewhat the same, the number of manufacturers has gotten smaller. More and more of the smaller companies are getting purchased by the big guys.
“By 2009, the industry had significantly matured and undergone consolidation during the 1980s and 1990s that reduced the number of mills from a peak of around 400 mills in the 1970s to around 50 (in 2009) with the top four manufacturers responsible for 80 percent of the carpet and rugs sold in the U.S.,” Floor Covering Weekly
BestRugPrices
At BestRugPrices.com we strive to provide our customers with all kinds of floor covering advice. We offer all kinds of blog articles on various floor covering topics. Here is a small taste of some of our related articles:
Is It Better To Glue Or Float Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Top Mohawk Flooring SmartStrand Products
Top Mohawk EverStrand Carpet Products
What Is The Best Time Of Year To Buy Flooring?
Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Really Waterproof?
Mannington Restoration Laminate Review
SolidTech Select Product Review
Hardwod Flooring or Wood Looking Tile?
How To Buy Flooring For Your New Custom Built Home
RevWood Flooring Product Review
Novafloor Luxury Vinyl Plank Product Review
Why You Should Always Buy The Best Carpet Pad
Teragen Bamboo Flooring Review
How To Care For Brand New Carpet
Mohawk vs Shaw Carpet (Which One Is Better)?
Arbor Seal Hardwood Flooring Review
Why Is My Vinyl Plank Floor Buckling?
How Durable Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
Vinyl Plank Flooring Questions (Our Blunt Answers)
What Are The Easiest Flooring Types to Keep Clean When You Have children At Home?
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Floor Remodeling - What Are Some Great Tips To Understand?
Next Day Carpet Installation - Is It Possible?
When Is The Best Time To Buy New Flooring?
Mullican Hardwood Flooring Review
Will My dogs Nails Scratch My floor?.
White Oak Hardwood Flooring - Is This product Durable?
Hickory Flooring - Is This Really A Good Product?
Dark Wood Flooring - The Scar Truth About Dark Floors
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Somerset Hardwood Flooring Review
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We also scan the internet to offer our opinion on the best place to purchase area rugs. The selling of area rugs has become an online activity. Most of your local stores have gotten away from allocating floor space to area rugs. We provide our customers with the best online sites to visit to get the best deals. We invite you to visit our site and check us out!
Disclaimer Disclosure: Please note that some of this site’s links are affiliate links. At NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.. Please note that these are products we know/use and recommend to customers. We also offer valuable blog articles on many flooring tips and products.
We would love to hear your comments on this article. Please take a second and give us your feedback. Thank you very much for reading our article, Carpet Resource Guide (Find Your Carpet).