03 Dec Seven Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Carpet
Your home’s carpet sets the tone for how your spaces look and feel. A dark, plush carpet, for example, exudes luxury and is perfect for a master suite, while a lighter, more durable option works well for high traffic areas that you want to make feel airy. On the other side of the coin, old carpet that is worn, stained or otherwise damaged can really bring down your design and make your home feel less than optimal. While your flooring isn’t going to stay in perfect condition forever, there are some clear signs it’s time to replace your carpet, and we’ll be exploring them today:
It Doesn’t Feel Nice Anymore
First up, if your carpet no longer feels pleasant underfoot, it’s probably time to replace it. We install this type of flooring for the warmth and comfort that it brings, so if you’re not enjoying these benefits anymore, your carpet isn’t doing its job. To test this, walk barefoot on a portion of your carpet that isn’t often used (think a corner or a section that is usually hidden beneath furniture that doesn’t sit directly on it) and then walk on a high traffic portion of your floor. While there will obviously be at least some level of difference, if this is too significant in your personal opinion, it’s time for some new carpet.
There Is Significant Visual Damage
Flooring sets the tone for any design, so if your carpet has stains, rips, discolouration, or other visual damage, it’s going to bring down the look of the whole room, no matter how well decorated it is. While some of these problems can be rectified with professional cleaning, others will only get worse over time. For this reason, it’s a good idea to either reconfigure your room to hide these issues if they’re minor (and aren’t causing any other problems) or replace your carpet if these issues are causing any health or safety concerns.
Top Tip: Staining in carpet is commonly caused by spills seeping into your underlay or subfloor and rising back up through your carpet. To avoid this, always clean spills as soon as possible, and consider the installation of a high quality underlay with an integrated moisture barrier. Our Pet Defence underlay is perfect for this, even if you don’t have any four legged family members.
Your Allergies Are Worse Or More Frequent
If you often find yourself coughing, sneezing or having itchy eyes when these issues never used to present as frequently in your home, it could be time to replace your carpet. By the same token, if your symptoms have become more severe than normal, a new floor could be what the doctor ordered. Because carpet is a soft flooring, it can gather dust, dirt and allergens over time, regardless of how well you clean it. This is one of the reasons why manufacturers mark maximum lifespans on their products, and also the potential cause of your increased allergy or asthma concerns.
When selecting new carpets to replace your current floors, be sure to choose an option that is designed to help reduce your symptoms. For example, you’ll find an asthma and allergy friendly icon on many residential underlays in our range, and many carpets also display this type of icon. While this doesn’t mean that these products can cure your allergies, it does mean that they’ll contribute to them as little as possible, which helps you create a healthier indoor environment.
There’s A Lingering Smell
If you discover that there’s a lingering odour in your space even after cleaning your carpet professionally, it could be time to replace your floors. Because carpet is, at the end of the day, fabric on your floor, it will absorb and retain any scents that make their way into it, and when those smells are unpleasant, this becomes a problem. While steam cleaning or bringing in a professional may be able to resolve this issue for you, if it doesn’t, it’s time for new carpets.
Note: Certain carpets and underlays absorb smells more than others. When selecting the type of carpet you want to install in your space let your sales specialist know if odour is an issue for you, and always select a high quality underlay to install beneath your floor.
It’s Been Exposed To A Large Amount Of Water
Carpet that has been flooded or otherwise exposed to a significant amount of water should always be replaced. Flood waters bring a whole host of nasties with them that you definitely don’t want living in your home, as they can pose a significant health risk. Domestic floods are also an issue, as even if your floors were only exposed to water from a malfunctioning dishwasher or washing machine, there’s still a risk of mould and mildew growing where you can’t see them.
You’ve Reached The Manufacturer’s Maximum Lifespan
There are many factors that go into the maximum lifespan that manufacturers set for their products. Usually ranging between five and ten years, these lifespans should be adhered to in order to ensure your carpet doesn’t become a health issue in the home. This may sound dramatic, but once carpet becomes worn it can slip and slide, while rips or ridges can be trip hazards, so if your carpet appears to be getting on in age, it’s best to swap it out before problems occur.
You’re Updating Your Design
Finally, although this sign isn’t as pressing as the others, if you’re updating your design, it’s probably a good idea to change your carpet as well. Not only will this help prevent you from running into the above mentioned issues once your new decor is set up, but there’s also a good chance that your old carpet no longer matches your vibe (especially if it’s just the stuff that was there when you moved in) so it’s worth making the change now so you don’t have to empty your room to redo it in future.
The carpet in your space sets the tone for both the function and aesthetic of your home, but remember, it’s only as good as the underlay beneath it. When you’re ready to update your flooring, speak to your Sales Specialist about installing our high quality, Australian made underlay beneath your new carpet to ensure maximum comfort and longevity.