Carpet question
 

I need to replace the carpet in all 4 of our bedrooms, hall, stairs and landing here in Canada.

I have bought plenty of carpet in the UK and have always been told to 'stay clear' of man made carpet and buy 80% wool, 20% nylon 'twist' carpet if you want it to last. Can I find any such carpet here in Canada? NO.

Has anyone successfully purchased a wool twist carpet for there house here in Canada, and if so, what make is it? All the shops here are trying to talk me into the polyester stuff with stain guard etc? That's what we have right now and it doesn't last. My parents have had the same axminster wool carpet in their house for the past 22 years and it still looks good as new, and that is with them wearing their shoes in the house, unlike here in Canada :lol:

Re: Carpet question
 

A quick search on google.ca bought up many wool carpet providers, a lot of them are in BC.

Here are a few for you to be going on with.

http://www.cottagecarpets.ca/wool-carpet-gallery.html

http://www.naturescarpet.com/

http://www.bannercarpets.ca/contactus.cfm

http://www.happyfeetcarpet.ca/contact-us.html

http://www.crossleyax.com/contacts.php

:)

Re: Carpet question
 

Thank you for the links, I had seen a few of those but I still have not seen any twist carpets.

They all seem to be wool Berber

I shall call them tomorrow, meanwhile if anyone else has had a twist carpet laid in BC, please speak up!

Thanks

Re: Carpet question
 

Actually Beber is the range of sandy colours rather its more correctly called loop pile. There's nothing inherently wrong with synthetic fibres, its just that they don't make very hard wearing ones so to keep the price down. To buy a wool Axminster or Wilton over here will cost you $400+ plus a square yard. Twist pile is a bit 1980s tbh and they are no harder wearing than other types, its about fibres per square inch. I'd go to a reputable carpet shop and find one that has a higher hard wearing index number (I think that what its called over here) and just realize you'll have to replace it in ten years.

Re: Carpet question
 

This might help you decide on the 'type' of carpet you choose.

A twist pile is the actual wool twisted, not 'cornrows' http://www.yourfloors.co.uk/flooring-guide/carpet.aspx

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publi...heet/hi_05.pdf

http://www.carpet-rug.org/residentia...pet-primer.cfm

Or you could just go for the cheap version :)

http://www.carpetdeals.ca/residentia...et-offers.aspx

Re: Carpet question
 

I was in the wholesale carpet business in Manchester and have sold carpet in the vancouver area with the same famous company for 47 yrs recently retiring...My trades were carpet and roofing...all based on square footages--so not unusual for me..... I made a very good living......The 80/20 carpet is indigenous to the UK and maybe Oz.?....Brit people will pay more and expect the carpet to last 20yrs or more..The wool in the carpet will shrug off dirt better than any other fibre and the 20% nylon gives it a strong backbone.....Canadians have a throw away society and will get tired of carpet lasting a long time....I personally sold since 1965 0ver 16000 wall to walls in the Vancr and Victoria areas....Polyester is a cheap fibre and can take dies that nylon cant..usually good for bedrooms..It does not have resilience that wool and even nylon has....The hardest wearing is Olefin -(polypropylene) but can only take so many colors --is cheap and is usually found in berbers..hard to dye ....not very resilient -thats why they bend the fibre over in a loop and call it a berber...When you bend a fibre it gives it resilience....Nylon is good but in the past attracted dirt because of static build up...Then they scotchguarded it....which helps to resist dirt but will not wear out......5 major shampooings will remove the scotchguard...A carpet should not be shampooed because it leaves a sticky residue which will pick up dirt...thats why when you shampoo a carpet it gets worse and worse...you have left a soapy residue on the fibre......Spots should always be treated with white vinegar and when it requires cleaning ..have a Professional to clean it but insist on no chemicals and a steam clean only.....They will also want to sell you scotchguard but as mentioned a steam clean done 5 times will remove the scotchguard so its a waste of money...cos it will be over maybe 20 yrs removing a factory scotchguard and by that time the carpet has long gone....

Re: Carpet question
 

So which one will reduce carpet burn ???? :p :D

Re: Carpet question
 

ChapStick.

Re: Carpet question
 

Thank you very much for your input, I think you have hit the nail on the head as I cannot find anyone over here who can get a 80/20 carpet for me. I am willing to pay double the price if it lasts twice as long.

Thanks again
Dan

Re: Carpet question
 

knee pads

Re: Carpet question
 

Ah, the voice of experience.

;)

Re: Carpet question
 

Bit of a passion killer ;)

Re: Carpet question
 

Have you tried contacting a company in the UK to send a roll over?
Maybe the vast majority of Canadian households see no need for 80/20 carpet and are content with the carpet offerings over here.
Anything can be got at a price.

Re: Carpet question
 

I can't be bothered with all that hassle, I was hoping to find it locally but apparently there are no sheep in Canada. I'll stick with what the locals use and replace it all again in 5 years.

Re: Carpet question
 

I have to respectfully disagree with this assertion.

Re: Carpet question
 

Do you think you are having trouble finding the carpet of your dreams due to the fact that canadians seem to hate carpet so much?
My Canadian friends would be horrified at the thought of a 20 year old carpet. I am just thinking that maybe this culture has a big bearing on the carpet options availiable here.

Re: Carpet question
 

That's at variance with my experience. I admit that I don't go into the homes of Canadians while they're living in them but houses listed for sale typically have vividly coloured long fibre shag carpets. I don't think such carpets have been made since the 1970s so I suppose that Canadian households typically have carpets that are, at least, 30 years old. I'd guess their fire accelerating nylon curtains are of a similar vintage.

Re: Carpet question
 

wow really! I see very little carpet in NS, people I have met have hardwood or laminate.
When I mention the word carpet they look horrified.

Re: Carpet question
 

We have a flooring company here in the UK and have noticed whilst visiting Canada over the last 15 years that both in shops and in friends homes you never see wool carpets and yes no wool twists!
I don't know why it is - I have actually wondered whether it was because of insect/beetle infestation (the only thing man made carpets are good for IMO)?
But I agree they seem impossible to buy!

Re: Carpet question
 

It is a phenomena I like to call "old people's houses." At some point in life you look around your house and say, "**** it, it's good enough to see me out." There is not much value for money spending tens of thousands remodeling a home when you won't be around for many years to enjoy it. However, it seems the "**** it" moment occurs at different ages for different people. I am a little worried that it has even crept into my thinking when contemplating some landscaping work.

When we last looked for a house we did see one with vivid orange long shag carpets. (At least, it was still vivid where the furniture used to sit.) Demolition would have been kinder to that house than any attempted renovation.

Re: Carpet question
 

How much to ship me a few rolls to BC, Canada :lol:

Re: Carpet question
 

So what are these then, chopped liver? :p

Wool carpets are available in Canada :)

http://www.cottagecarpets.ca/wool-carpet-gallery.html

http://www.naturescarpet.com/

http://www.bannercarpets.ca/contactus.cfm

http://www.happyfeetcarpet.ca/contact-us.html

http://www.crossleyax.com/contacts.php

Most of my former neighbours had all wool carpets in their 'formal' sitting room, however, they were mostly people in their 70's. I think younger people just prefer wood floors - easier to keep clean!

Re: Carpet question
 

I guess we could always start a thread where can you buy decent wallpaper in Canada as they dont seem to do this brand or that type :lol:

Re: Carpet question
 

Without wanting to drag this thread on any longer, we do not want wood in the bedrooms. It's much nicer to put your feet down on a warm carpet in the winter than a cold wooden floor. We have wood everywhere else and don't want it in the bedrooms.

Now if I could just find a nice beige wool twist I'd be happy ;)