Carpet questions we commonly answer at Godfrey Hirst

What is the best carpet?

The best carpet depends on your lifestyle. Consider the following:

• Do you have a family that spends a lot of time at home?
• What are the high traffic areas around your home?
• What is the likelihood of staining (from mud, food, etc)?
• Do you have pets?
• Do you want to create a certain style?
• What is your budget?

Which is better: wool or synthetic carpet?

Finding the fiber type that is best for you is a matter of fitting the right carpet to your lifestyle. Each fiber choice has its own unique attributes but all Godfrey Hirst Carpets will provide maximum level of performance for your home. Browse through our fiber types to see which one suits your personal taste and will provide the performance that you need, at a price you can afford.

How do I find a great carpet?

You can check the quality of the carpet from its independent grading. The main bodies that relate to North America are the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) and the Wools of New Zealand. http://www.carpet-rug.org and http://www.woolsnz.com.

How wide is carpet?

The standard width for carpet in North America is 12 feet; however, some styles of carpet are produced in widths of 13’ 1.5”.

How do I know how much carpet I need?

Our Carpet Calculator can help you to work out how much carpet you will need for your home.

Do you need a special vacuum cleaner for different types of carpet?

We recommend you use a different vacuum cleaner for different carpet types. For low cut pile carpets, we suggest a vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush that agitates the pile and loosens the soil for easier carpet maintenance. When vacuuming loop pile, cut-loop pile or berber carpet, we recommend that you turn the brush off or change the head to prevent excess fuzzing. For thicker carpets with a higher pile, the height of beaters may be raised and/or suction level reduced to make vacuuming easier.

Do I need stain protection on wool carpets?

NO! Wool carpet has a natural ability to resist dirt, stains and spills.

Who will install my new carpet?

Usually your retailer will offer installation as part of the sales package or after-sales service. Installation should be discussed with your retailer during the sales negotiation. All carpet should be installed on new underlay that is compatible with the quality, and proposed use, of your carpet and otherwise in accordance with the Carpet and Rug Institute’s CRI Carpet Installation Standard 2015 and the Godfrey Hirst Carpets Recommendations for Installing Tufted Carpet (as set out in the Godfrey Hirst Carpet Maintenance and Guarantee booklet or www.godfreyhirst.com) unless otherwise specified.

Why can the color of carpet look different at home?

Lighting can change your perception of carpet color, making it look like particular areas are lighter or darker than others. The lighting environment between a carpet retail store and your home may also vary, therefore we recommend that you take a sample of carpet and view it in your home for color before making your final purchasing decision. Also, during use, pressure on carpet pile causes the pile to lie in different directions creating the effect of “shading”. This shading is a characteristic of cut-pile carpets (particularly solid color). Though on occasions dramatically affecting appearance, it has no detrimental effect on the performance of the carpet.

Will the color of my carpet fade over time?

Carpets, like all dyed textiles, will slowly lose color over time when exposed to direct sunlight; therefore, it should be protected from prolonged periods of direct sunlight. Color change can also occur when carpet is exposed to ozone, emissions from heating fuels and air conditioners, pesticides, cleaning agents, benzoyl peroxide and other household items. This occurrence, known as ozone damage, is largely unexplained but appears to be more prevalent in coastal areas with a high ultra-violet content.

Does having carpet in a house increase airborne dust levels, thus increasing risk to people suffering from asthma and other dust-related allergies?

It has yet to be proven that there is a significant increase in the levels of airborne dust between carpeted and non-carpeted homes. More significantly, there is a misapprehension that having carpet in the home will increase in the exposure to dust mite allergens when in fact there are a range of other triggers in the home that can increase exposure and cause a respiratory reaction. The Carpet and Rug Institute has provided an information sheet to assist consumers to better understand the issues related to Allergens in the home. Please visit their website here.

What does DPF stand for and what does it mean?

DPF (Decitex Per Filament): Unit of measure for the linear mass density of carpet fibres, defined as the mass in grams per 1000 meters. The lower the DPF, the higher the number of fibres per filament and the softer the carpet.