there is a thread here just for Smartstrand. Look at current list and you will see it. Wt alone isn't much of a factor in determining quality. While Home Depot likes to talk weight its not the be all in determining which one will perform better.

Here are some really good blogs about Mohawk and their new carpet. There's tons of information here about new environmentally friendly carpet. It really is great! Mohawks' carpet with scotchgard is amazing as well!

Here is a link that might be useful: Environmentally Friendly Carpet-Scotchgard Carpet and HARDWOOD TOO!

I have read all the threads here about SmartStrand several times. I am asking about the specifics Richmond, Villa Way, and New Sensation. I did a search on here and did not find those particlar types. I know I want Smart Strand, just need more info on these.

All of the styles you listed are from Mohawk. Smartstrand is a registered trademark of Mohawk. When they use the trademarked name of Sorona, royalties have to paid to DuPont. So Smartstrand would just be an unbranded version of the same carpet. If you shop around online you will prbably save a lot of money. Most mills offer the same carpets under a lot of different style names to prevent comparison shopping at different retail stores.

Here is a link that might be useful: American Carpet Wholesalers

You are looking at 2 identical carpets and one whose construction is the same, but the yarn is unbranded. From a performance aspect they are identical. No reason to eliminate the one on sale. If the new additional years of warranty and the environmental part is important to you, go with Sorona. If it is not and you can save a buck - go with SmartStrand. Again the performance will be the same - do upgrade the pad to a moisture barrier one. And with a good textured cutpile like what you are looking at the Pups will be fine. Still can't believe the White house went with the other kind!

Different stores do have different names as CEO said. As for weights - weights are a tricky deal. It is AN indicator but not the only indicator of performance. Some retailers put too much stock in it and try to price according to weight instead of by cost.

Good luck - CG

I have the two stores coming out this week to measure. I have missed the sale price on the Richmond, it was over today but I figure if they really want my business and the guy's question was to me,"What can I do to keep your business here?", he will still give me a good price on it.

The second store where the Horizon New Sensation was, is the place that will give us the best deal on the tile we are also buying. Other guy has already told us he can't match that so even though I really liked the way Villa Way and Richmond felt (although the samples from both looked identical to the one from New Sensation), I may decide to go with the place we get the best overall deal for everything.

We are even considering putting in wood looking vinyl in some of the rooms, again depending on the deal. Both places have that.

I did ask for the upgraded pad from both. The one place has the Karastan gold padding, which I know will really jack up the price.

On a side note, when I went to the Floorscapes store here, which is the place that has the Villa Way and Richmond, I said I was looking for the "3GT" on the label. He said, "I think you are mistaken, that's on Shaw Carpeting." I said, "I don't think so but as long as it says DuPont Sorona, we are okay. Then later when I turned the carpet over to look at the label, there was the "3GT".
I asked him, "Is this a Shaw carpet here?" "No, that's Mowawk, we don't carry Shaw." Hmmm, well here's the "3GT" right on the label. The guy turned bright red and said he'd never noticed it. I told him, if he wanted to know anything more about his carpet, he should go to Carpetgirl on the Gardenweb Flooring Forum! HA!

Thanks for your help. Now to make a decision!

Boston -

Too funny. To the sales person's credit, he was thinking of R2x treatment from Shaw. I gave you all that nugget as an extra:) Fortunately we have Sorona and that's a lot easier to remember. Love that you questioned it though - an informed consumer is a happy consumer.

Any time you are doing more than one room or type of flooring, price the entire job. Just tell them you want a 8 to 10 pound pad with a moisture barrier...that's all you need. As for a deal...use those extra rooms as bargaining chips. The only thing that can say other than yes is no, right?!?

Wood looking vinyl?? Consider a laminate instead (if that isn't what you meant). It is a click install versus a glue down and I think long term you'll be happier with it. Not for bathrooms, but good for kitchens.

I so hope you love your flooring!

CG

I am now waiting on the two bids for the flooring. I did pose another question for you on the long posting about SmartStrand. Forgot I had this one personally.

But now I have another...
I have noticed that some people mention an odor after they have cleaned spots even if they have the moisture proof padding. Is that because of the corn composition?

We decided not to go with anything else but the tile and carpet. The vinyl wood looking product looked beautiful but just too easily scratched. The same thing for most of the laminate we looked at. Even the Pergo products as lovely as they were seemed to show small scratched. I just can't take that chance since we keep carpet, tile etc. FOR A VERY LONG TIME, like 20 years!

Thanks for all your help. I knew nothing about these new products and as always have learned alot from the Garden Web forums.

Just answered on your other post as well.

Saw Belgian's comment...bottom line is that all of the stian was not removed. The smell is not becoming part of the carpet or the pad and would have been removed by an extractor. I've personally done the small sample test with mustard and what I find it you really smear it around when it is wet. It is much easier to clean when dried or caked on. Then you can scrape away most of it and spread less. Sometimes not seeing it, doesn't mean it is completely gone. What the pad will do is allow you to get it out before it becomes part of the pad or subfloor and you can't get to it.

Corn part has zero effect on performance. The only way you can even determine corn-based from oil-based is carbon dating. And no - it doesn't look better with butter or salt:)

CG