Buying Guides

Carpet

Buying the best carpet & carpet underlay

Carpets are a major investment for your home; adding comfort, warmth and even soundproofing your space. Explore our guide below for help with deciding on, ordering and owning a carpet. We can estimate for and fit your new carpet too

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Location

The location of your new carpet is an important consideration, as carpets located in different areas experience different levels of traffic and wear. Things to consider when choosing your carpet:

Wear grading

All our carpets feature a wear grading, which is listed online or on the reverse of the sample. The heavier the grading, the more durable the carpet:

  • Medium domestic wear – ideal for bedrooms and secondary rooms that see slightly less foot traffic, and people are less likely to wear shoes
  • Heavy domestic wear – ideal for living rooms, dining rooms and halls
  • Very heavy domestic wear – for porches and hallways where people are likely to be wearing shoes.

Ply yarn

The ply of a carpet will affect its durability and performance. We offer carpet carpets up to four ply. Generally, the higher the ply, the denser the carpet. 

Tog rating

The tog of the carpet tells you how insulated it is, generally the lower the tog the less insulation it provides so opt for a low tog carpet if you have underfloor heating. We recommend that the combined tog rating of carpet and underlay doesn't exceed 2.5.

Which style of carpet?

Our carpets are produced in a variety of surface textures designed for different rooms and types of lifestyle.

 

Twist

  • Hard-wearing and long-lasting textured carpets
  • Durable and attractive thanks to the use of tightly twisted fibres which create a textured appearance
  • Ideal for high-traffic rooms and less prone to staining than some other carpet styles

 

 

Loop

 

  • Ideal for busy areas like hallways and stairs

  • The rugged appearance can look like natural flooring such as sisal

  • Not suitable if you have pets, as their claws can pull the loops

 

 

Velvet

 

 

  • Softer, smoother yet still hard-wearing and long-lasting
  • Light and dark shading creates a rich finish
  • Ideal for adding a luxurious touch, especially to a bedroom

 

 

 

Natural floor covering

 

  • Produced from plants, husks and grasses
  • Available in different weaves, such as herringbone and boucle
  • Adds a laid-back, rustic to a room
  • Well suited to heavy-traffic areas

 

 

Which material?

The look, feel and quality of a carpet is also dependent on the type of yarn fibres used.

 

Wool

Pros

  • Warm
  • Durable
  • Reduces heat loss and noise
  • Maintains its appearance 
  • Naturally flame-retardant
  • Easy to clean
  • Resistant to dust mites, mould/mildew and bacteria growth
  • Naturally hypoallergenic
  • Sustainable

Cons

  • Not as stain-resistant as synthetic carpet
  • May not be as soft as synthetic carpet

 

Wool mix

Pros

  • Reduced shedding
  • Strong
  • Cost-effective

Cons

  • Less durable than pure wool 

 

 

Polypropylene

Pros

  • Soft under foot
  • Good value for money
  • Highly stain resistant 
  • Bleach-cleanable
  • Good colour fastness

Cons

  • Flammable
  • More likely to flatten over time

 

Polyester

Pros

  • Soft under foot
  • Highly stain-resistant and easy to clean
  • Good colour fastness
  • Quick-drying

Cons

  • More robust than polypropylene

 

Nylon

Pros

  • The softest carpet available 
  • Very strong
  • Durable
  • Resistant to moths
  • Highly stain-resistant and easy to clean

 

Sisal

Pros

  • Strong
  • Hardwearing 
  • Available in a choice of muted colours

Cons

  • Stains easily
  • Hard to clean

 

Seagrass

Pros

  • Naturally textured 
  • Stain-resistant

Cons

  • Slippery surface, especially when wet

 

 

Jute

Pros

  • Softest of all natural floor coverings
  • Fine texture 
  • More stain-resistant than sisal

Cons

  • Not as hard-wearing

 

 

Coir

Pros

  • Durable
  • Strong
  • Cost-effective

Cons

  • Rougher than other natural floor coverings
  • Susceptible to fading in strong sunlight

 

 

Choosing your underlay

To get the most out of your new carpet, we always recommend fitting underlay, even if you already have it, as it:

Helps reduce sound

Keeps warmth in and reduces energy costs

Provides underfoot comfort

Adds to the longevity of your carpet

 

 

Rubber

There are three basic types of rubber underlay; sponge, crumb and crumb felt.

Sponge rubber

 

  • Characteristics of natural rubber, but is odourless and has greater stability
  • Soft, luxurious feel underfoot
  • Good heat and sound insulation
  • Less resilient to heavy furniture compared to a firmer crumb rubber

 

 

Crumb rubber

  • Offers outstanding durability in high-traffic areas
  • Ideal for rooms with heavy furniture
  • Contains over 80% recycled content

Crumb felt

  • Features a felt layer on top of the crumb rubber
  • Contains over 80% recycled content
  • Provides the comfort of sponge and the resilience of crumb 

 

 

 

Paper

  • Forms a barrier to dirt and draughts
  • Used beneath underlay to even out surfaces 
  • Essential under carpets with built-in underlay to prevent the carpet backing sticking to the floor

 

 

Good

Better

Best

Reason

Living room

Crumb & Felt

JL Comfort

Comfort Plus

Comfort and available in a range of price points

Dining room

Crumb & Felt

JL Comfort

JL Crumb Rubber

Withstands the weight of heavy furniture

Main bedroom

Crumb & Felt

JL Comfort

Comfort Plus

Comfort and available in a range of price points

Staircase & Landing

Crumb & Felt

JL Comfort

JL Crumb Rubber

Withstands heavy traffic

Hallway

N/A

N/A

Timbermate Excel

Noise reduction and a moisture barrier

Conservatory

Crumb & Felt

JL Comfort

Crumb & Felt

Comfort and durability with less traffic than the living room.

Spare bedroom

N/A

N/A

Crumb & Felt

Comfort, cost-effective. Comfort Plus is recommended if you’re looking for a more luxurious feel

Underfloor heating

If you have underfloor heating, you can refer to the tog rating found online or on the sample to see how suitable it is.

Our Partners will be able to help you find something suitable; however, we still recommend that you seek specialist advice from your heating system supplier to ensure you have the best option.

 

Pricing

All our carpets are priced in square metres. The final cost though will be dependent on any additional services and fitting.

Sampling

Free samples of the majority of our carpet ranges are available online and in our shops.

Ordering

Once you’ve decided on the kind of carpet you’d like, book a free estimating appointment online or visit one of our shops. Please note that we only supply carpet if you also use our fitting service.

Estimating and fitting services

We offer a free estimating service where one of our trained experts will visit your home to take measurements and provide you with a quote.

If you choose to buy your carpet from us, we also need you to let us fit it, as we're unable to supply only; the price for fitting will vary depending on the size of the job and its complexity, plus any additional services you order such as furniture moving.

Owning

Caring for your carpet

Snip off any pills with scissors

Vacuum frequently to prevent shedding and shading

Avoid static by using a humidifier or putting pot plants in water trays

Avoid beater brushes on loop pile carpets. Use the suction head only.

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Flex our Bronze, Silver and Gold Buildings and Contents Cover and adapt our optional add-ons to suit you

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INTEREST FREE CREDIT AVAILABLE

Spend over £1,000 on Home, Garden, Furniture and Lighting and spread the cost with Interest Free Credit. 0% APR representative. Terms & Conditions apply