SELECTING
& PURCHASING
DEALER
DIALOGUE
Carpet
dealers frequently carry several carpet lines and manufacturers
in their showrooms. You'll see a range of quality when you begin
your carpet search. Your best bet is to educate yourself and research
your options before you head to the store. Then, you're sure to
get a quality carpet that provides comfort, durability and beauty
far into the future.
Below is a
helpful guide to understanding what to expect when visiting a
carpet dealer.
Room Use
Be prepared
for your dealer to ask some of the following questions:
-
How is
the room going to be used?
-
Is there
light or heavy room traffic in the room?
-
Is the
room the center of activity for family or entertaining?
-
Is there
direct access from outside?
What you should know:
By asking
these questions, the dealer is trying to gauge which grade
and style of carpet would work best for your home.
Try to
give as full a picture of your expectations for the carpet.
Is it important that the carpet stand up to lounging pets,
running children and bustling activity? Or are you mainly
concerned about how it will look and feel in a formal living
room that doesn't get a lot of use?
Color and Style
Typically,
a dealer might ask:
-
How much
use will the room get?
-
Are kids
going to be playing down on the floor? Or is it a formal room
that doesn't get much use?
-
Is it
a small room or a large room?
-
What are
the lighting conditions in the room?
What you should know:
Some carpet
styles are designed for active use and make a lot of sense
in high traffic areas. Other styles work better in formal
rooms that don't have a lot of coming and going. Your dealer
can help you find a style that meets your needs if you explain
how the room will be used.
You should
also bring swatches of fabric from drapes and other room furnishings.
That way you can consider a range of colors that will match
your existing décor. When picking a color, keep in mind that
dark colors tend to make a room appear smaller and cozier
and a lighter color tends to make the room seem larger. Color
can also affect your mood. Warmer colors often make you more
energized while cooler tones provide a sense of calm.
When considering
color, remember the lighting in the carpet store is not the
same as the lighting conditions in your home. Ask the dealer
if they have a lighting box in which to view the carpet. Or
ask if you can take a sample of the carpet home.
Cost
Typically,
a dealer might ask:
-
Are you
installing this carpet to spruce up your house before you
sell it?
-
Or are
you planning to live with this carpet?
-
What is
the size of the room to be carpeted?
What
you should know:
The dealer
is trying to determine what grade and quality carpet you are
interested in buying. Also, he or she needs to know the square
yardage or square footage of the room in order to calculate
the price.
Come prepared
with a rough estimate of your room. Check out the handy Carpet
Calculator if you need help measuring. When you're ready to
buy, the dealer will send a professional to take the final
measurements.
Make sure
that all cost estimates from your dealer include everything
from padding, installation, moving furniture and discarding
old floor covering.
Always
make sure that you are selecting from the highest grade carpet
you can afford. Generally, the higher the grade, the more
comprehensive the warranty will be.
Quality
While in the
store, it may seem that many carpets look the same. But not all
carpets perform the same. It's the technology behind the carpet
that makes a difference.
Labeling
At the store,
you'll see lots of labels from different mills and manufacturers.
You might get confused as to what type of carpet you are looking
at.
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