Cleveland Carpet Cleaners Cleveland, OH

Cleveland-area carpet expert offers purchasing advice

In 2010, Frederick’s Floorcovering and Cabinetry will celebrate their 50th anniversary. Rick Frederick has been there for 40 of those years and plans to one day pass the reins to his son, the same reins Rick received from his father.

Growing from a 300-square-foot shop with just Rick, his dad and his brother, Frederick’s is now home to 3,000 square feet of flooring and cabinetry. “People often tell me they couldn’t work with family, but I love working with family. We get along great,” Rick says.

What should I look for to ensure I purchase lasting, high-quality carpet?

“You need to consider these factors [beyond color] to get the right style of carpet — fiber, density, texture and twist. The most important is the fiber. The most durable synthetic fiber is nylon. You want to get something resilient that will recover against crushing and won’t mat. You also need to look at the density — how much fiber is in the carpet. The standard used by most builders is 25 ounces per square yard — this kind of carpet looks great when it’s new, but it won’t last like you want it to. You can get carpets that have up to 100 ounces per square yard. Texture is important, whether the fibers are cut or looped, and you really want to look at the twist of the fibers. The more twist, the more springlike the carpet is and it will bounce back when you step on it. Twist per inch also helps determine the style and durability.

“We use lifestyle and traffic to help guide people toward the right quality and performance of carpet. People often think about the color first, durability second and price third. You have to think about what type of carpet is right for you. If you have three kids and two dogs, you can’t expect the carpet to last as long as it would for someone who doesn’t.

“Almost as important as the quality of carpet is the quality of the padding. We use an 8-pound pad. It’s about a dollar more per square yard but well worth it. We also have a 10-pound pad, but I think that’s overkill. The padding acts as a shock absorber and if you don’t have a good pad the carpet will mat down quicker. There are also pads that have a moisture barrier and odor fighting enzymes built into them – which is especially great if you have pets. If someone mentions that they have pets, I’ll let them know about it, it’s a really good upgrade to get.”

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