Q: How do I know what a 'good' carpet is?
A: Irrespective of the style, colour and type of fibre you like, you can check the quality of the carpet and see whether it has been graded by an independent carpet grading program. The main bodies in Australia are the Australian Carpet Classification Scheme (ACCS) and the Woolmark/Woolblend Mark Scheme.

Q: Do I really need to know about carpet fibres?
A: In a word, yes. The performance and quality of a carpet is directly related to the amount and quality of fibre that goes into the pile. The better the fibre and the more densely it is packed, the better the carpet will perform. Thin, less dense carpet will lose its surface appearance faster.

Q: What is the difference between shading and colour fading?
A: While shading is simply the result of the change in direction of the carpet pile due to pressure from footsteps and vacuuming, colour fading is more serious. Colour fading of carpet occurs when particles of oily soil depositied on carpet fibres cause gradual but siginificant dulling of colours - the colour is not lost but hidden under the film. Cleaning your carpet regularly will avoid colour fading.

Q: My carpet looks like it's shedding. Is this normal?
A: Some shedding is common in new carpet with a cut pile. The loose fibres are easily removed with regular vacuuming. This should not affect your carpet's quality and should diminish after a few weeks or months depending on vacuuming frequency.

Q: My carpet was soaked due to flood. What are my options?
A: Carpet should be professionally extracted and dryers set up and running within 12 to 24 hours. It's best to use a professional that is trained in water restoration in order to ensure carpet, underlay and sub-floor is completely dried within 12 to 24 hours to prevent mould. If the carpet is contaminated with sewerage, it is recommended to properly dispose of carpet and underlay.

Q: I have dust and pollen allergies. I want carpet but how will this affect my allergies?
A: People that have allergies should vacuum their carpet at least twice a week and have their carpet cleaned the way the manufacturer specifies approximately every 12 to 18 months. Carpet is an asset for allergy sufferers as it traps the dust versus a hard surface where dust lays on top of the surface to kicked back into our breathing zone. We recommend using a vacuum with good dust containment and performance properties.

Q: How wide is carpet? (How do I know how much I need?)
A:The standard width for carpet in Australia is 3.66 metres; however, some styles of carpet can be produced in widths of 4 metres. The reason for this width measurement is that the machines used to produce carpet are constructed to allow 12 feet (or 3.66 metres) of carpet to be manufactured. There are only a limited number of machines in Australia that are capable of producing 4 metre width carpet.

Q: Do you need a special vacuum cleaner for different types of carpet?
A: It is important to vacuum your carpet thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high traffic areas. Vacuum cleaners fitted with micro filter systems ensure fine particles (such as dustmite allergens) are removed and stay in the collection bag, which is particularly important if you are dust sensitive.

The recommendation is to use a different vacuum cleaner for different styles of carpet. For low cut pile carpets, the suggestion is for a vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush that agitates the pile and loosens the soil for easier carpet maintenance. When vacuuming loop pile, cut-loop pile or berber carpet, it is recommended that you turn the brush off or change the head to prevent excess fuzzing.

Ensure the vacuum is kept in sound mechanical condition and brushes are cleaned and replaced when worn. Regularly check and adjust the height of beaters (if fitted) to ensure the carpet is not damaged by excessive beating. Suction efficiency of vacuum cleaners is reduced considerably when bags are half full. Change or empty dust collection bags frequently and replace filters as recommended by the manufacturer.

Q: Do I need stain protection on wool carpets?
A: In a word, NO! Wool carpet has long been known for its natural ability to resist dirt, stains and spills. This means that stain resistance treatments are usually unnecessary. With its unique and complex structure, wool's hard, microscopic external fibre scales give your carpet natural stain and soil resistance.

Wool is one of the most forgiving and easiest fibres to clean and maintain. As wool does not easily attract lint, vacuum cleaning is easier - in wet cleaning, fibres swell and release dirt particles.

Q: Who will install my new carpet?
A: Usually your retailer will offer installation as part of the sales package or after-sales service. Installation should be discussed with your retailer during sales negotiation.

All carpet should be installed on new underlay that is compatible with the quality, and proposed use, of your carpet and otherwise in accordance with Australian Standards Association Carpet Installation Recommendations AS2455-1995.

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