Carpets

Replacing carpet in our homes is not something people do often. In fact, many homeowners will only shop for new carpet a few times in their lives and those shopping experiences are probably separated by decades. With so much time between purchases and with so many options to consider, it is easy to be confused and hard to know where to start.

Empress Flooring offers quality, durable carpet from some of the best brands in the world. Our carpet options are stylish and affordable, so you never have to settle. Let the carpet professionals at Empress Flooring help you find the perfect style of carpet to fit your home’s needs.

Types of Carpet we Offer

Plush Carpet

Plush carpet is one of the most popular carpet styles because of its traditional look. Plush carpet has a smooth, level surface that can show subtle tones of color and highlights.

Frieze Carpet

Frieze carpet is distinguished by tightly twisted fibers and “shaggy” look. Frieze carpet has lots of texture and a casual style.

Berber Carpet

The look is unmistakable: thick loops of yarn, flecks of color, a low profile, and a hearty feel. Berber carpet has a casual style and is designed to work well in high traffic rooms.

Pattern Carpet

Pattern carpet is made from a combination of cut and looped fibers to create linear, squared, dotted, and even geometric designs. Distinct patterns create a designer look.

Commercial Carpet and Carpet Tile

Wall-to-wall broadloom and carpet tiles designed with an emphasis on durability and easy maintenance.

Indoor/Outdoor Carpet

Designed for interior rooms or covered exterior spaces like patios, porches, and sunrooms. Indoor/outdoor carpet may resist moisture, color fading from sunlight exposure, and mildew.

What to Know Before You Buy Carpet

A lot goes into creating beautiful carpets. The style, feel, texture, and function of the carpet changes depending on the materials that make up the carpet. We’ve simplified what you need to know about each of the carpet fibers and carpet constructions so you can better choose the carpet to best meet your needs.

Carpet Fibers

Fibers are what you walk on, and what make up the face of carpets. Fibers are woven into yarn that is tufted or looped through a backing, and voila, you have carpet! There are many different types of fiber used to create carpet, each with different characteristics and features. Most carpets are made from one of four main types of carpet fibers:

• Nylon : Nylon has been around since the 1940s and is one of the more expensive synthetic carpet fibers. Generally, nylon fiber costs more to produce compared to its counterparts, so you can expect to pay more for a carpet made from nylon, all else equal. Nylon fibers are very strong, and as such, carpet made from nylon can stand up well to abrasion. Thanks to manufacturing technologies, nylon fibers can be solution-dyed, meaning the color is locked into the fiber itself, rather than being applied after production. This makes nylon carpet colorfast and fade-resistant, and spills can’t permeate into the fiber itself, making it easier to clean.
• Polyester: When it comes to stain-resistance, polyester fiber is hard to beat. Whereas first-generation polyester fibers had lower resiliency, advancements in how the yarn is manufactured have greatly improved the performance of polyester, making it rival nylon for durability. Additionally, polyester is very soft, less expensive than high-end fibers, like nylon or wool, giving it an advantage in terms of price. If you’re considering the environmental impact of your home choices, you’ll be pleased to know that polyester fibers are often made from recycled materials, such as plastic bottles, and this fiber is recyclable.
• Olefin : Olefin fibers are considered among the least expensive to produce, so price-wise, olefin carpet can be cheaper. When used in homes, olefin carpet works best in rooms with lower foot traffic, such as a bedroom. Since olefin is less resilient than other synthetic fibers, you will often find it used in carpet styles like berbers or loops because the tighter loop construction can help improve its longevity. In certain situations, olefin carpet makes a lot of sense – olefin performs well in areas where moisture may occur, thus it is frequently used in indoor outdoor carpets.
• Wool: Wool is a premium, natural fiber that is more expensive than synthetic carpet fibers. Wool has been used as a floor covering material for centuries, and is known for being strong, durable, and long-lasting, however most synthetic fibers rival the benefits of wool, and a fraction of the cost. Many homeowners don’t think wool is worth the expensive price tag because you can get comparable performance from a nylon or polyester fiber carpet. If you are someone who wants only the highest quality carpet and budget is not much of a consideration, wool might be the right choice. For most folks, the price tag of wool makes it unaffordable, especially as a whole-home carpet.

Each type of carpet fiber offers somewhat different benefits for durability, colorfastness, abrasion resistance, and ease of cleaning.

Carpet Pile Height and Weight

In addition to material and construction, carpet will look and feel different based on pile height and weight. These are factors to be aware of, but shouldn’t necessarily be the variables you make your purchase decision on. Understanding pile and weight can steer you toward carpets that may fit your needs and wants.

Carpet Pile Height : Pile is a fancy term that simply means the length of a carpet’s yarn. It’s a measurement that references the height of the fiber material in the finished carpet. A deep or high-pile carpet has longer fibers and is considered plush, whereas a low-pile carpet has shorter fibers.

• A high-pile carpet typically means the fibers are a bit looser, which creates a more plush and luxurious feeling, but comes at the cost of how easy they are to clean and maintain.
• Low-pile carpets are shorter cuts or loops and have a dense appearance. While they generally are easier to care for, they are typically not as comfortable.
• When assessing the carpet you are buying, a high-pile carpet isn’t always better quality than a low-pile carpet.

Carpet Weight : Weight can make a difference, but only when comparing two otherwise identical carpets. A higher face weight means more yarn, and more yarn can make for a better carpet. There are two carpet weight considerations—face weight and overall weight—so make sure you compare the right numbers.

• Face weight refers to the carpet fiber—the soft surface you walk on. If you’re torn between a few similar carpet styles, comparing the face weight is one way to determine higher quality.
• Carpet weight refers to the full carpet construction—including the backing. Some carpets that have a heavier overall weight may not be as high quality or as suitable to your tastes as those with a higher face weight.

Whatever you do, don’t let a retailer sell you on “stitches per inch” or SPI. This is a measure of how dense a carpet is, but varies wildly based on material and style. It’s an apples-to-oranges type comparison and won’t give you a good feel for the quality of the carpet.

How Much Does Carpet Cost?

Sometimes, when shopping for carpet, determining the cost can feel like a guessing game. If you walk into a big box store or carpet retails shop, you’ll often find carpet priced by square foot or square yard. Beware though: at most retailers, the ‘price per square foot’ does not include carpet padding, installation, and materials.

Other costs—which are really important parts of the job—that you might not want to get stuck managing yourself, include moving furniture, hauling away your old floors, and clean up.

When comparing how much it costs to replace carpet, you need to be sure that you consider everything that needs to be done in order to complete your project. Here’s a simple checklist you can use when you shop to be sure you’re comparing apples-to-apples total prices.

Carpet Cost and Pricing Checklist

• Carpet Cost
• Measuring
• Professional Installation
• Padding
• Moving Furniture
• Haul away of old flooring
• Other materials (tack strips, transitions, thresholds)
• Clean up

Empress Flooring provides an all-inclusive price estimate(Opens in a new window) that considers everything needed to complete your carpet project. It’s no-stress, transparent pricing, so you can focus on finding the carpet that meets your needs.

Carpet Maintenance

Once installed, make sure you protect your carpet investment by regular and seasonal care. Carpet can stand up to a lot of life lived on top of it, but like any surface, maintenance goes a long way to keeping it looking pristine. Being consistent and proactive with cleaning will make a huge difference!

• Vacuuming is a must. For high-traffic areas, vacuuming at least twice a week can help prevent dirt and soil from damaging carpet fibers. For low-traffic areas, you can vacuum twice a week.
• Tackle spills immediately. The quicker you get to cleaning a spill the better. Use a white towel to absorb the spill, blotting with cool water. Never scrub or rub your carpet harshly, as that could cause fuzzing.
• Be careful about using carpet cleaners and deodorizers. Despite good intentions, you might end up damaging your carpet if you use chemicals on it. Instead, consider having your carpet professionally cleaned every six to 12 months using a hot water extraction method or “steam cleaning.” Carpet deodorizers are used to neutralize smells, but they might not be your best option.