Time to pull the rug and change the carpet?
Carpeting offers a number of benefits. Not only is it cosy, quiet and easy to install, but it’s also more affordable than many other flooring options. And high-quality carpeting can last a decade or more with proper care and maintenance.
Of course, even the best carpets will eventually need to be replaced.
Here are four signs that it’s time to retire the existing carpet in your home:
Wear and tear
Irreparable matting, tearing and ripping are telltale signs it’s time to replace your carpet. Polyester carpet fibres are known to matte and lose their form — and once this happens not even professional cleaning can revive them.
Nylon carpeting is more resilient than polyester. When there is life left in nylon carpet, it will typically respond well to cleaning. It’s also possible to repair some small rips and tears. Significant damage is difficult to address, however — particularly on stairs and major walkways.
Stains
Most carpeting comes with a stain-resistant finish. But over time, this treatment fades and leaves the carpet and pad unprotected. At this point, your carpet becomes more susceptible to deep and stubborn stains — particularly those caused by bleach, wine, mustard and biological substances such as pet urine.
Professional carpet cleaners offer heavy-duty extraction services to address these stains, though biological substances can absorb into carpet padding and cause mould and mildew buildup. When this happens — or when professional carpet cleaning fails to remove stubborn stains from your carpet — it’s probably time to consider replacing it.
Lingering odours
Odours resulting from pets and other causes, such as tobacco smoke, should be eliminated or noticeably diminished after a professional cleaning.
If odours remain, this could indicate that they have penetrated deep into the carpet fibres, the carpet pad or the subfloor.
And, in the case of pet urine and other biological sources, it may even indicate mould and mildew growth. In these cases, it is typically most cost-effective to replace the carpet entirely.
Age
After several years, even the highestquality carpeting will start to show signs of wear. Carpet fibres will start to lose their texture and tuft.
Professional cleaning will yield sub-par results. And colour loss, fading and rippling will likely begin to occur.
You might also notice increased allergy symptoms as older carpets collect and disperse more allergens and particulate matter.
Most manufacturers say carpet will last about 10 years with proper care. If your carpet is nearing 10 years or older, you may want to start considering a replacement.