Carpet fibers are made from natural materials such as wool or silk, and from man-made materials such as nylon, polyester, and polypropylene or olefin. Wool or silk carpets are specialty items. Commercial carpets are made from the man-made fibers which can even be blended together.

Carpets have different textures depending on how the fibers are woven. Common examples of textures are twist, shag, and velvet. A Berber or loop texture is often used in recreation rooms.

The stain resistance of a carpet is the result of the combination of fiber and treatment. Stain resistant materials can be bonded to the fibers at the factory, or applied to the finished carpet. Bonding stain resistant materials at the factory is much more expensive than applying them to the whole carpet.

Stain resistant materials are not absolute and they degrade over time. Cleaning stains is a separate subject, but in short, it is best to request cleaning information from the manufacturer or dealer. In general, the following substances can potentially cause permanent stains: acne medications and skin creams, bleaches, toilet bowl cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, plant foods and fertilizers, insecticides, furniture polish, and bathroom cleaners.

Virtually all carpets do not warrant protection from animal stains, but the situation is not hopeless. Animal stains cause two problems. The first is the potential staining of the carpet fibers. Second, the stain will inevitably sink into the padding and cause an odor. The first problem can be mitigated by choosing high stain resistant fibers that have been treated and quick cleanup of the stain. The odor problem can be treated with enzyme treatments.

Sales personnel will tout the warranties of carpets. But all warranties are conditional and therefore virtually useless in my view. This is not a scam. It is true that carpets must be maintained properly, and that poor maintenance legitimately invalidates a warranty. In any case, the best protection against bad carpet is to simply avoid buying cheap carpet or any carpet whose price is "too good to be true."

Consumers must find the best compromise between durability, stain resistance, appearance, and cost. Nylon is generally the most durable and resilient, but is the least stain resistant. Polyester and olefin are less resilient than nylon, but are more stain resistant.

Selecting a carpet is difficult because carpets can be infinitely varied depending on the mix of fibers and textures. The best advice on selection is to simply closely study carpets. How high and how resilient are the piles? How dense are the piles? Look closely at the individual piles. How tightly bound are they?

Study the most and least expensive carpets. Eventually you will get a "feel" for what a quality carpet looks like. From there, you simply match the quality with your budget.

Carpet prices range from $11 to $35 per square yard for residential uses. Carpet dealers usually will offer carpet below $15 a yard for rental properties. As with anything else, you will remember the quality long after the price, and I recommend buying the best quality possible.

Choosing how much carpet to buy is another difficult decision. It is not often quick and easy to measure the carpeted area, and estimates of the square yardage necessary can vary. The estimate is complicated by the fact that carpets come in twelve foot rolls, so a room that is 10' x 10' actually requires a 10' x 12' carpet.

Also, there are closets, halls, and stairways that can complicate the estimate. Some carpet installers will be better able to reuse cut stock than others.

The best way to evaluate the estimate is to evaluate the estimate. This sounds simplistic, but it really is useful. Some carpet stores may not even deign to show you how they arrived at the estimate, while others can provide a detailed floor plan of the home or unit. The best estimate will be the one with the most detail.

After the estimate is agreed on, details of the installation should be reviewed. The most important detail is to determine where or if any seams are planned, and if the seams are necessary and or acceptable. Carpets also have directions, and it is important to insure that the carpet is running the correct direction.

Padding is another important issue. Most of the stores offer six pound felt, but you may consider other options, especially in high traffic areas. A dense resilient pad is better than a soft thick pad because it is better able to provide support to the carpet.

The most difficult task in laying carpet is to stretch it properly. If not done properly the carpet can easily wrinkle. Don't hesitate to ask the installers to restretch the carpet if necessary.

The most important maintenance for a carpet is regular vacuuming with a quality vacuum cleaner.

There are many more details, but I have been as concise as possible. Hopefully the information has been helpful. If you have any questions, send an email.