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Remodeling Flooring

Carpet for a carpet-hater

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Our carpet needs to be replaced on stairs and upstairs. I hate carpet. We looked into remodeling the staircase into wood treads, but the cost is just too much since it really is a complete rebuilding of curved stairs, open stringers, new bannisters, posts, etc. So we are back to the plan of just remove and replace all carpet. The type of carpet we have is kind of a shaggy multi-dot-colored thing, I’d say a medium pile. It held up pretty well in the bedrooms, and I was able to clean it, but on the stairs it’s absolutely gross and ratty looking. It’s really difficult to clean well on the stairs. We’ve got constant up and down foot traffic, and dogs who love to hang out on the stairs all day long.

What is a better option than the type of carpet DH calls “fuzzy?” Would a lower pile type such as Berber hold up better? Is that type good for bedrooms also? I can hardly stand to go to the carpet stores, they give me the creeps, but I think carpet is the only affordable option for us. Thoughts?

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Comments (3)

kariyava
4 years ago
It sounds like Berber is a good option for you.
AJCN thanked kariyava
Elaine Ricci
4 years ago
Yes, berber would be a good option for you. For lower maintenance, I would go with a color that will not show dirt as much (I had a light-colored berber at a previous house, and it had a tendency to show dirt, so I had to work harder to keep it looking nice).
AJCN thanked Elaine Ricci
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If you are looking to do a decorative carpet on the stairs (only) then one way to do it is to use the carpet as a RUNNER...not a stringer-stringer carpeting. The other thing to consider is normally the stairs should match "something". If you have different carpet at the top of the stairs that does not match the stair carpet, that NORMALLY means you have different carpet DOWN stairs. The stairs will match the carpeting on the MAIN floor. I'm not hearing that this is your scenario. What type of flooring do you have on the main floor? This is what the stairs will be MATCHING if you choose to go this route (stairs not matching carpet upstairs). The other way to do this is to use the decorative carpet on the stairs and then pay to have an area rug cut and bound in your chosen "stair" carpet. This area rug then sits in the entrance/bottom of the stairs. This is a quick, easy (slightly less expensive) way to get the stairs to match "something".....'cause they really should match something. Right now they match the upstairs carpet. Once you change this design feature, you need to REPLACE it with another version of "must match something". The bound area rug in the same carpet is one of the fastest ways to do this. Good luck. Remember to look at your main level flooring and decide whether or not you want to go forward with this concept.
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did you purchase this ? do you like it ? I am considering it for under a berber carpet in a moderately high traffic area in the house.
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The Carpet & Rug Institute has a Green Label program that certifies carpet has low VOC emissions. Check out their site.
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Who makes and what is the color of that beautiful hall carpet!!??!!?!? I love carpet and everything you’ve done there!!
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greg_2015
4 years ago
Berber isn't great with pets. The claws can get caught in the loops and rip it up.
AJCN thanked greg_2015

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