You just read a fascinating article about the lifespan of carpets. You look at your own and wonder if you need to replace your carpet. While replacement isn’t a bad idea, there are things you should know before you begin moving furniture out of your rooms.

When we watch Chip Gaines roll up carpet and pad prior to replacement, we don’t see the hours and hours of taking out staples, small nails and scraping off glue. We don’t see any damage to the subfloor, so we don’t see its replacement. All we see is pretty, fluffy carpet being rolled onto the subfloor.

As you were reading, you might not have read what you should know before moving furniture out of your rooms. Here it is.

1. It’s About Layers

Before you strap on your back brace and knee pads, think about your floor. It begins with a subfloor upon which your carpet is laid. If there’s moisture damage to the subfloor, then it will have to be dealt with first.

The next layer is padding beneath the carpet, or you’d be walking on the hard subfloor. The padding is usually glued to the subfloor.

Then comes the carpet layer. This has to be aligned with the baseboards, along which the carpet is secured onto tack strips using hundreds of nails or staples to keep the carpet tightly stretched.

2. Size Matters

You’ll need accurate measurements before you choose a new carpet. The square footage of a room should be figured against how many rolls of carpet will fit. Rolls of carpet are generally 12 feet. If the room is very large, then seams will be a matter for consideration.

Carpet has to be laid in the same direction to avoid an obvious break in the continuation of the carpet. You’ll also need a little extra carpet just in case. If you need to replace your carpet, a professional will measure the room, fit the carpet to it, and create fewer obvious seams to trip over.

3. The Cutting Room Floor

Not every room is a perfect square. Bay windows and built-ins jutting into the room make a problem for carpet fitting. Rooms with carpet that abut rooms with hardwood floors present another type of problem. Cutting it to fit requires a professional with skills.

While homeowners with some flooring skills might be able to carry their re-carpeting efforts this far, most won’t have the proper equipment with which to stretch the carpet. Carpet must be stretched in order to provide a tight and attractive look. Professionals like those at gocarpetcleaningatlanta.com have the equipment with which to accomplish the job.

4. It’s About Time

Before you call in the pros, take a good, hard look at your carpet. Stains represent moisture in the carpet fibers (even if it’s been professionally cleaned.) The older the carpet is, the more dust mites, allergens, pet dander, and mold is present. This causes health problems for anyone crawling or exercising on the carpet.

If you need to replace your carpet, look for faded spots, lumps, and bumps, and worn-out padding. High-traffic areas will be flattened. So will carpet beneath furniture legs. The general rule is that the carpet should be replaced every ten to 15 years.

5. Aspects Of Carpet That Affect Price

The removal of the old carpet, materials for the subfloor, the cost of the new carpet, and the labor all combine to give the carpet its cost. It runs between $900 and $12,000, depending on the size of the room. If you need to replace your carpet, look for the best instead of the cheapest.