 | Doug Brennon has been in the carpet/flooring industry for 20 years. He has been the corporate store manager for Derailed Commodity for the last 6 years. For more information please call 620-395-2141 or visit www.derailedcommodity.com. |
Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering
2012-08-29 15:44:02
Does a rating system assure I get the right carpet?
Q- There are so many carpets, how do I know I am getting the right one for our home? Does a rating system insure that I get the right carpet?
A- A rating system can help guide you to some of the best choices in carpet for your home, but chances are that there are still other things you should factor in to your decision.
A rating system developed by a manufacturer is their own evaluation of products based on their set of standards and “testing” methods. These rating systems cannot always be compared across manufacturers.
First, you need to understand that there was a time not long ago when you could look at a certain style and color of carpet, take down the lot number, and then find the same lot in another store and compare prices. There were several well-known names and consumers could easily compare the carpet product using mill recognition as a baseline. Today however, there are fewer mills and many of those companies have merged.
Shaw Ind, Inc. developed the most used carpet rating system, called PAR, which stands for Performance, Appearance, and Retention. This system designates a number from one-to-five, rating carpet durability based on a typical "family-of-four" scenario. The higher the number, the more durable the carpet. But will a carpet with a rating of 4 be durable enough for your home? How would you know unless you understand the rating process.
If you are getting ready to buy new carpet, here is what I suggest you do:
• Use the rating system to guide you to a few choices
• Consider the level of foot traffic in your home
• Factor in how much you are willing to pay, remembering the cost of padding and installation
• Consider how long you plan on keeping the carpet
The answers will be different for everyone. It may be that your carpet would get little wear so you can opt for one less durable, or that you like to change it every few years so you want a mid priced carpet. Perhaps you look at it as a long-term investment and want to buy the very best. As you can see, the choices outside of the rating are just as important as the carpet durability. The rating system, combined with rating your own needs and desires is the best way to get a carpet that is a perfect match for your needs.
