Nope!  Carpet is best at absorbing sound.  Add a nice cushion to it and you are even better off.  Carpet is often preferred on staircases for sound abatement, and also for its anti-slip properties.

 You will want to augment your cleaning regiment with a professional carpet cleaner who uses the hot water extraction method every 12-18 months, on average.  This method is most effective in lifting and removing dirt, which contains small sharp particles that if left in the carpet, will erode the fiber (kind of like sandpaper!).  This method also restores the texture of the carpet and removes residues that can mat the carpet down.  Showing proof that you have maintained your carpet professionally is needed if we are ever to help you file a claim, in case your carpet does not perform as expected.

Yes!  Better brands like Anderson Tuftex have developed carpets to withstand snags and are guaranteed to not edge, ravel, or zipper for up to 10 years.  Not to shabby!

Very few things can stand up to the POWER OF THE SUN.  The best protection against fading is to make sure that windows are UV treated, and shades or blinds are drawn when you are not around.  Solution-dyed fibers may resist fading better, but no carpets are entirely fade-proof.

Carpets with texture, longer looser piles, shorter loop piles, and carpets with pattern obscure vacuum lines the most.

 If you wish for your floor to look like a Zen Garden, or you love to create elaborate geometric patterns for your family to tip-toe through, then you are not alone!  Carpets with short, tight cut-piles in a solid color tend to show vacuum lines the most.

Maybe not!  Some vacuums are overly aggressive and can damage your carpet and even void your carpet’s warranty.  Check to see that your carpet is certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute here.  If your vacuum is good to go, then be sure that the beater bar (if your vacuum has one) is adjusted to the correct height.  You should feel no resistance when running your vacuum over your carpet.

You may experience “new carpet smell” directly after installation.  However, these dissipate quickly.  Carpet is one of the lowest emitters of VOC’s among household furnishings and building materials.  All of our carpets products under the Shaw umbrella are labeled Green Label Plus certified for the highest VOC standard.  Carpets made from natural fibers like wool are another option for chemically sensitive people.

It is true that longer, thicker-piled carpets can harbor microbes.  But if you love the soft, quiet and warm feeling of carpet underfoot, do not despair!  A short pile carpet with a waterproof backing can limit the hiding places, create a barrier between the carpet and cushion below and also keep down air-borne particles and dust. 

Wool carpets are great!  Wool has the intrinsic value of being a natural product.  Who doesn’t want to think of a fluffy sheep when walking across the room or watching a movie on the floor?  If properly maintained, a wool carpet can last for years.  It is naturally fire retardant, allergen resistant, soft and versatile.    However, it is typically the pricer option.

Polyester carpets are typically more stain resistant.  Many polyester carpets are solution-dyed, meaning that the pigment continues throughout the strand (not just topically applied to the surface of the fiber), making it color-fast and less absorbent.  However, better nylon carpets have made up for this with anti-stain and soil technology like Shaw’s R2X, which bonds to the fiber, repelling stains, and does not wear off.

It depends on what you need in a carpet!  For durability and texture retention over time, especially in high traffic areas like stairs and hallways, Nylon is still king.  However, there have been great improvements in the quality of polyester carpets, and some solution-dyed polyester carpets offer distinct advantages for stain resistance.  Nylon has a cottony or wool-like feel, while polyester can be silkier.  Polyester carpets on average are less expensive.