Here are 10 tips for buying and maintaining your carpet.

1. Ensure that the carpet has been graded. This is usually done by an independent carpet grading program such as the Australian Carpet Classification Scheme, the Woolmark/Woolblendmark Scheme, or the Fernmark Scheme. You will find the grading sticker under the corner of the carpet along with the manufacturers symbol.

2. When comparing prices it is very important that you are comparing apples with apples. Many carpets are priced by the broadloom metre (measures 1 metre by 3.67 metre), but other carpet retailers also price by the square metre. If you are comparing carpet prices to other flooring products – vinyl, ceramic, timber, laminate, etc – remember all these products are priced by the square metre.

3. It is vital that you ask your carpet specialists about the type of underlay that best suits the carpet and your installation. A quality carpet underlay will improve foot comfort, absorb crushing forces, eliminate minor imperfections in the floor, and improve the thermal and acoustic properties.

4. Also, ask the retailer about how the carpet will be installed and ask them to provide an installation plan. Where possible, the seams should be away from windows where falling light may highlight the joins; seams should be avoided in high traffic walk ways such as hallways and doors; and if carpet is being installed in joining rooms, the carpet’s direction of manufacturing should be the same throughout the house.

5.Make sure you keep a record of the manufacturer, the grading registration number, the type of underlay, any warranty information, the details of the carpet layer melbourne you used and a small piece of unused carpet.

6. Consider buying an extra peice of carpet as a backup to replace damaged areas. If you are carpeting your stairs, it is advisable to buy enough carpet to re-cover the stairs in 2-3 years time. Carpet on stairs wears faster than in other areas of the home.

7. Protect your carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with blinds, shades or awnings. While it is important to open the curtains on a nice day to let dunlight in, if the temperature is going to be high draw the curtains for your carpets sake.

8. On the day the carpet is going to be installed by your Melbourne carpet layer, and for a while after, keep as many doors and windows as possible open. The carpet needs to have ventilation and breathe for a 3-4 days after it has been installed.

9. This one is super important - buy a quality vacuum cleaner. Not only will it remove abrasive soil, which grinds the base of the carpet pile, but up-to-date cleaners with multi-filter systems will safely remove the finest of dust particles.

10. To protect against uneven wear and tear and compression, use plastic furniture caps under each leg of heavy furniture, randomly move your furniture to distribute carpet wear more evenly and the placement barrier mats at outside doors to trap dirt from shoes would be advisable.