Good carpet installation begins long before the tack strip goes down. Fiber, density, cushion and the seam plan decide whether new carpet stays tight and springy or ripples and mats within a few years.
Carpet Specs That Predict How It Will Wear
Showrooms sell carpet by hand feel. Hand feel tells you almost nothing.
Face weight, the ounces of yarn per square yard, is the number salespeople lead with, and it's the easiest to game. A tall, loose pile can carry a heavy face weight and still crush in a hallway. Density tells you how tightly that yarn is packed. Twist, counted in turns per inch, tells you how well each tuft holds its shape. A dense carpet with a tight, heat-set twist will usually outlast a fluffier one with a bigger face weight.
Carpet is the right call for bedrooms, stairs and family rooms where warmth and sound control matter. If you're still comparing soft and hard surfaces room by room, start with our overview of flooring services.
Read a Carpet Label in This Order
- Fiber type, because it sets the ceiling on resilience and stain behavior.
- Density, which you can estimate as face weight times 36, divided by pile height in inches.
- Twist level, where more turns per inch generally resists matting in cut pile.
- Pile height and style, since tall plush shows footprints and vacuum tracks.
- The manufacturer's warranty exclusions, which commonly involve stairs, pet damage and unapproved cushion.
