Carpet Warranties

Warranties are the key to carpet performance.
Although there are many warranties offered today, only a few provide the kind of performance protection against the things that can destroy your carpet’s good looks fastest—matting and staining.

Recognizing the warranties that give the best coverage is the most reliable way to know what you are buying and what sort of appearance will be maintained a few years down the line.

The most common types of carpet warranties--

1. WEAR WARRANTIES—Probably the most common warranty, this guarantees that the carpet fiber will not wear away. It offers no protection against manufacturing defects and makes no performance promises. This guarantee offers assurance that the fiber was made by a reliable source, an important consideration, but it gives no indication of the quality of performance of the carpet on your floor.

2. MANUFACTURING DEFECTS—Any carpet you buy should be covered by a written warranty against manufacturing defects, since it comes directly from the manufacturer and is your assurance that the carpet was not made in a shoddy manner.

This warranty protects against problems like tufts pulling out of the carpet, the face of the carpet coming apart from the backing, and the dye coming out when you shampoo your carpet. While very important, this warranty still does not guarantee performance over the long term.

The most important warranties for longlasting carpet--

1. CRUSH-RESISTANCE WARRANTY—A crush resistance, or texture retention warranty, states that the carpet will not resist matting and crushing due to twist loss for a specific period of time. If you are really concerned about how your carpet will look years from now, this is one warranty you should insist on.

2. STAIN-RESISTANCE WARRANTY—Since there are a lot of stain-resistance processes on the market, look for one that is guaranteed by the mill or fiber manufacturer for proven results. Select the strongest, simplest warranty against staining you can find, back by a manufacturer you can trust.

Take Time To Know Exactly What Kind Of Protection You Are Getting
Too often, what at first looks like a strong warranty is watered down by limitations and disclaimers. Read the warranty carefully, and be sure you know the answers to a few important questions before you buy.

HOW LONG IS YOUR CARPET COVERED?—Is this a 1-year, 5-year, or 10-year warranty?
The more faith a manufacturer has in a carpet’s longevity, the more faith you can have in it.

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, WHAT WILL THE MANUFACTURER DO ABOUT IT?
A proper warranty spells out exactly how the manufacturer will compensate you if you have a problem, and often the compensation program starts on a minimal level and drops quickly from there.
It is important that you understand the reimbursement policy before you buy. The manufacturer’s policy is another indication of how strongly the product is supported.

WHAT DISCLAIMERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY?
Sometimes a warranty does not cover certain types of installations or certain areas, and two of the most common areas where a carpet is not guaranteed are stairs and hallways. Other areas may also be excluded.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAINTAIN WARRANTY COVERAGE?
A warranty can demand a great deal of the purchaser in order to remain in effect, so be sure you understand what is expected of you. Almost any performance warranty will be dependent on proper maintenance, but some can be more unreasonable than others. See if the warranty specifies exactly how you must care for your carpet and if those requirements are reasonable.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR WARRANTY IF YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE?
The average American family changes houses every five years, and most warranties are not transferable to new owners. A transferable warranty can be a selling point if you decide to sell your house, and it is another indication of how seriously the manufacturer supports and believes in the product.