Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Mar 17, 2010 2:47 pm We are getting the carpet done for our new house ourselves and I am a little overwhelmed by the options. Just wondering if anyone can make suggestions on what are some good options. We are in Melbourne and my requirements are: 1. Can handle traffic - carpet will be on the stairs and all bedrooms, and our formal lounge/study. Rest of the flooring is timber. 2. Is child friendly - we have 2 kids so want something that will withstand stains (or be easy to clean) 3. Doesn't fluff up (still have memories of rolling on carpet as a kid and being covered in fluff) 4. Isn't too expensive. While we don't want to go "el cheapo", we are also constrained by our budget and can't afford to go for the top shelf priced carpet (we have around 100m2 of carpet). Any suggestions would be very welcome. And if you have any recommendations for suppliers in NE Melbourne that would be great too. Thank you Re: Carpet recommendations 2Mar 17, 2010 2:51 pm Just wanted to add that I've looked at the threads below, and seems that I would either be looking at SDN or wool, but am looking for recommendations on particular brands or suppliers in Melbourne to try to narrow it down a little. Re: Carpet recommendations 3Mar 17, 2010 4:43 pm If you are after a non-fluffing carpet, you need to stay away (dare I say it) from wool and also spun nylons and spun polyesters. Your spun nylons are easy to I.D as they are usuallly over weight compared to regular nylon and are "bulked" up. You will also notice minor "cob webbing" on the surface. In an average carpet shop though, you would maybe find 2 or 3 spun products, as they are not done much thesedays. Your SDN carpet is going to be great for fade resistence and colour retention, above average for staining (it's still not stain proof though....but is very good). It comes in cut pile (plush & twist), level cut loop (patterns of loops set amongst a cut pile...quite popular at the moment), and in loop pile. The loops are in varied forms, ranging from multi level geometric to non-linear style patterns in modern sisal styling. The one thing with SDN is that the fibre is imported pre-made (as in it is solution dyed when it is made, and it is made overseas), so your colour choices are limited to around 10 - 12 standard colours, except a rare range, no matter where you shop. If you buy from a reputable retailer who supports the product warranties themselves (and doesn't fob you off to the manufacturer in the event of a problem) then pricing should range from around $32 m2 up to say $60 m2, dependning on style and weight. Your laying and underlay (allowing for a good quality such as a dense rubber or foam....or PRIME) should sit at around $18 - $19 m2. Thats for a fully professional scenario. Another option is the Smartstrand. Now your IQ150 Smartstrand will give you bascially all of the SDN features with the added benefit of the fact it pollutes 60% less greenhouse gases and uses 30% less energy to make than other man made products. It is made from 1/3 corn and is the latest fibre to come from Dupont (best known for their STAINMASTER product of old). IQ150 Smartstrand carries a lifetime stain warranty, 15 year wear warranty, 20 year anti-static and 20 year manufacturing defects warranty. The warranty is carried by Harvey Norman in Australia and supported by Mohawk, an American company who is the largest carpet manufacturer in the world (they also own Uniclic Laminate). Because IQ150 Smartstrand is not a SDN, it has an amazing array of colours to choose from. You don't have to settle with a pre-defind colour pallette like you do with SDN - you can choose almost any colour you can think of. It comes in 2 inch thick shags all the way to low (but dense) level cut loops (the very low but close toegther pile would be perfect for you stairs). I would suggest you YouTube or Google "Sorona Smartstrand" (its called IQ150 here in Australia). In Australia, it is imported and sold by Harvey Norman Flooring. Either a SDN or the IQ150 would be a great choice for a growing family. Re: Carpet recommendations 5Mar 17, 2010 6:44 pm It ranges from low 40's right up to the 60's per m2. Depends on the actual product ( there is about 25 - 30 ranges). Re: Carpet recommendations 7Mar 17, 2010 6:53 pm If you wait until after the 1st April, I am taking over Chadstone and I can help you there myself. All metro stores sell it though. CHADSTONE may be a bit of a drive for you. ( you said you are NE ?) 1 11012 1 15766 they can, it's a fairly standard solution when the slab isn't recessed. the falls need to be in the main floor, if it hasn't been done then you need to ask them to redo… 4 6595 |