Pros: A carpet can create as many moods as colors can influence, it can make a small space look larger and it can shrink large places to make them look small. A carpet can provide a rich modern look to a room or it can create a statement of neutrality, it is safe for small children that might fall on it without injuring themselves and it feels very comfortable to walk on.

Cons:  Hard stains are very hard to remove off a carpet floor which can result in unpleasant odors at times, carpets also pose big cleaning problems when different foods and drinks become embedded in its yarn tufts. A carpet can store pet odors and in times of low humidity collect static electricity which can deliver a slight shock to people who touch metal or each other. Also, in high traffic areas of a house it may show wear paths.

Picking the right carpet for you

Things to be considered are your habits, traffic in the designated section of the house, design, durability and maintenance level required.

The main four carpet types in the market today are:

Solid color carpets

Textured carpets

Berber carpets

Pattern carpets

Each one of these types of carpets has different brands, levels of thickness, weight and colors.  For heavy traffic areas at your home you should consider a carpet which is more durable and stain resistant, this will make it easier to handle stains on your carpet and will show less wear. A very popular and durable carpet for this kind of areas will be the "Berber" carpet.

When you go to a store to pick the right carpet for you, know that carpets have a star system rating, every carpet will have a star rate of 1-5 stars. This allows the consumer who does not know so much about carpets to pick best option to fit his needs and budget. A 5 star rated carpet would be more durable, have higher density and better protection from stains so it will last longer.

Carpets cost

The average industry’s carpet prices can range anywhere between $1.5 per square foot for the low end, and up to $15 per square foot for the high end. Price will vary depending on the brand, thickness, custom colors and warranties. (These average prices are for the carpet including the underlying pad and installation.)

Carpet installation process

Any carpet installation project starts with removing the old carpet or other flooring, base molding and sometimes the entrance door. It is important to make sure the subfloor is clean and dry and you should secure and fasten any floor boards which may be loose prior to installing the new carpet. After finishing the sub floor preparation the process continues with an installation of new tack-less strips around the perimeter of the room, making sure you leave a space of about ½” between the strips and the wall.

The next step would be laying the under pad wherever the new carpet will be installed, the under pad provides a base for the carpet, extra cushioning and separation between the carpet and subfloor. It is important to use a high quality pad and not to overlap the pad layers.

Laying the carpet will be the final step in the process, the knee kicker will be used to make sure the carpet is stretched right. After the knee kicker is used, the carpet stretcher will finish attaching the carpet. Finally, any vent openings will be cut and a base molding will be installed.