Wall-to-wall carpeting can be a blessing and a curse, even to the most careful homeowner. Some homeowners decide to replace their flooring with tile or hardwood and then add an area rug to have the best of both worlds. Proper maintenance can definitely extend the life of any carpet. All carpets that have high traffic areas will need to replaced sooner or later. Some of the signs are obvious, such as, wear spots, stains, color or difference. But some signs are more subtle so you will need to know what they are.

Determining when it’s time to replace your carpet let’s consider a few signs that reveal irreversible wear and tear:

Stains are sometimes inevitable, people will spill things, pets, children and even furniture can make stains in the carpet. If you are not able to replace your carpet right away think about getting an area rug to cover the stains but eventually you will want to replace it. Did you know that stain-resistant finishes to your carpet doesn’t last forever? Over time even the best brand of treatments will fade and leave your carpet completely unprotected from the stains.

No homeowner will be able to get away from wear and tear on the carpet. Matted carpet, tears, flattened areas and significant wear on the main walkways are red flags that your carpet is  needs to be replaced. Once your carpet gets to this stage, it’s time to replace it.

You have strange odors in your home, you have tried everything to get the out; air fresheners, carpet deodorizers, deep carpet cleaning but nothing has worked. It is time to bite the bullet and replace the carpet, there is probably something deep in the carpet or in the padding that is causing the bad smells. The fact that the odor is still present after a deep cleaning means it has penetrated deep into the carpet fibers, the carpet pad or even the subfloor. It could be a sign that there is mold and mildew growth occurring. In this case, the best and most cost effective to replace the entire carpet to fully get rid of the smell.

Carpet padding is the heart of any carpet. You can get the most expensive carpet but without a good padding it will leave it feeling cheap. Carpet padding helps to support the carpet, working as a foundation and making it comfortable to walk and lay on. It also buffers sounds and keeps a room quieter and even improves insulation. Carpet padding will absorb spills and cleaning your carpet (even a deep cleaning) doesn’t always clean the padding. Some of the signs of old padding are: unevenness, wrinkles, and a crinkling sound when someone walks over it.

If you are plagued by allergies making sure your carpet is in top condition is imperative. If you notice an increase in allergies, it is possible that your carper could be the culprit. Most homeowners that have allergies will opt to lay tile or hardwood flooring. It is easier to clean and an area rug can be placed in the room.

When it comes time to replace your carpet you have several options. When laying down your carpet think about using carpet tiles, this will save you money in the long run since you only replace the tiles damaged not the entire room. Just make sure you buy extra tiles for when it is time to replace the damaged ones. If you constantly find yourself cleaning your carpet or see the carpet losing its texture and tuft, it may be time to say adios to it and change it out. Don’t fret though. Instead, head over to PlumbTile, where our expert employees will be able to answer any flooring questions you may have. Let us help you improve your life, one piece of carpet at a time.