Flooring types

Carpet

Carpet quality is decided as much by the padding and the installation as by the carpet itself. The topics below map the decisions that most affect the outcome: construction basics, pad selection, installation methods and what causes carpet to fail early.

What this hub covers

Costs, installation, floor prep, tools, problems and maintenance for this material.

Fiber & construction

How pile, twist and density affect wear.

Padding

Density, thickness and why it matters more than people expect.

Measuring & seams

Roll widths, seam placement and waste.

Installation

Stretch-in over tack strip versus glue-down.

Stairs

Waterfall versus cap-and-band, and material needs.

Carpet problems

Ripples, seam peaking, matting and pulled loops.

Start with the numbers

Plan the material and cost side of the job, or see how a contractor estimate lines up against practical planning benchmarks.