CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE FLOOR

Is it level, firm, smooth? Are there uneven floor boards, protruding nails, loose wires, exceptionally wide divisions between boards, any dampness in the floor or skirting, any leaking radiators? Any such problems should be remedied prior to laying a carpet. Any gaps or holes in the floor or skirting boards should be filled.

CONSIDER THE ANTICIPATED TRAFFIC

The size of the family, frequency and nature of use i.e. constant daily use, adults only, adults and small children, teenagers and their friends, frequent visitors, regular entertaining, family pets, etc.

Hall Area: Is there another entrance, if so is it used? Is there a traffic lane through the hall from kitchen to living room or, as in open plan situations; is the main traffic flow, through the living room?

Stairs: Are there winding steps, narrow and/or shallow treads, steep risers, is the staircase a standard type or open plan design? Your retailer will make provision for regular stair movement in normal installations and will be glad to give you expert advice in unusual circumstances. On stairs, the retailer will ensure that, when laid, the pile of the carpet will be correct, i.e. running down the stairs. Never reverse a stair carpet.

Moths: During production all carpets are treated with a moth prevention substance which will protect the carpet from being attacked by the common clothes moth. However, care should be taken to ensure moths or their larvae are not already present in the skirtings, floorboards, underlay or indeed in furniture. While the treatment may prevent the clothes moth from initially attacking the carpet, if moths are already present in any part of the house, the carpet could become affected in time. Hence it is important to have any infestation of this nature, or of other types of insect or vermin that could also cause severe damage, cleared before the new carpet is installed.

UNDERLAY
Your retailer will guide you on the correct choice of underlay, bearing in mind the nature and condition of the floor to be carpeted, anticipated traffic density and type of carpet selected. Never use an old carpet as underlay and the use of worn underlay is a false economy.
Stairs: Very heavy underlay, with the underlay overlapping each stair nose, securely fixed, is essential.
Gaps in floor boards or below skirting boards. particularly liable to occur on older houses, can, in addition to causing draughts, allow tiny dirt particles to be carried through to the surface of the carpet with the resultant local soiling on soil lines, especially on lighter coloured carpet.  Underlay will reduce the problem but the use of special lining paper beneath the underlay may help to eliminate it.  Your retailer can advise you further.  The use of lining paper is generally recommended with foam backed carpet where no other underlay is used. Ask your retailer for advice.

POINTS TO BEAR IN MIND

In common with all textile manufacturing, slight variations can occur between dye lots; therefore, if it is intended to use a particular carpet over several areas, it is important to order your total requirements together. For this reason, no guarantee can be given that carpets supplied will match exactly the sample or pattern book sample from which the selection was made.

80% Wool 20% Nylon is not a quality criterion and should not be confused as such. It simply means that the yarn used contains 80% wool and 20% nylon in each strand.  However carpets containing wool are generally in the more up market ranges, wool providing many of the practical advantages sought by the discerning purchaser.  However, with considerable fibre development in new generation synthetics, various types of carpet products are now available, combining modern styling, good value and the capacity for hard wear The density of the carpet pile construction irrespective of the yarn used, is a very important factor in the wearing properties.

In considering the use of lighter shades, the amount of natural soiling and traffic expected in the area being carpeted, should always be considered. Delicate and soft shades tend to take on a soiled appearance more readily than stronger colours. Heavy Street or road traffic in the vicinity of the home can be the source of dust, oil and grease deposits in the atmosphere which can penetrate into the house. As a result these pollutants can be present in the normal house dust, regardless of how much care and effort is taken in regular maintenance.
The same consideration should be given when selecting products where there is very little contrast in the various colours used with a carpet design. With a certain type of surface soiling, some contrasting tonal or subtle effects can be lost. The time of selection is when these factors should be considered to avoid possible disappointment later.

When selecting patterned carpets, some points for consideration are:

The scale of the design in relation to the area being carpeted.  The nature of the design being used e.g. directional designs, geometrics or traditional designs such as paneled Persian designs, tile effects or designs with motifs symmetrically positioned, should be avoided where interior walls are not straight or parallel - this feature is frequently observed in older houses where an all over design or flowing type of pattern will help to disguise it. 

Patterned carpet for stair use: - when selecting a design with an obvious motif do not assume that this will automatically fall into the centre of the stair flight. Various factors influence how the pattern will appear such as the height of the riser, depth of tread, the width of the stairs, the width of the carpet being used plus the underlay. Regular stair movement will also alter the appearance periodically. To position the design centrally may involve waste but you could discuss this factor with your retailer. He will not, however, be able to arrange for the pattern element to appear on each step as your staircase will dictate how the pattern will "fall". Avoid designs with well-defined horizontal lines for use on stairs, in certain instances the design ‘line’ could give the illusion of the edge of a step to someone with less than perfect sight.

SELECTION
Firstly consider the area to be carpeted in terms of size, features, fixtures, fittings, and any existing furnishings which will form part of the new interior scheme. The proportions of the area as well as the character and style of the room should be considered.  This is particularly important for patterned carpets. A small area can appear even smaller if a very large scale design is used, whereas a very small design in a large area can almost disappear.  
When choosing colours and designs, always view the samples from the distance you would expect to see them when laid. It is not sufficient to judge at arm’s length.

LIGHTING
Always consider the effect your lighting system will have on the colouring, lamps and side lighting give a subtle effect whereas a central lighting system will spread a quite different effect and over a greater distance. Perhaps there is a combination of both in use. Remember daylight is constantly changing but artificial lighting systems remain the same.

FUNCTION
Consider the function of the area being carpeted, a dramatic scheme may work in the entrance area but will not be conducive to rest in a bedroom setting. A relaxing ambience is preferable in the living area, whereas a stimulating colour scheme might be appropriate for a playroom. 

With so many different products available from Navan’s extensive ranges, schemes from the highly dramatic to the conservative can be achieved. Patterned carpets in the heavy domestic ranges offer choice from the traditional and classic styles to the very modern, whereas plain carpets, in twist and velvet finishes, offer a vast range of colours from which to choose. New yarn finishes, combination yarns, textures and other special effects change frequently to keep pace with developments in the furnishing world and offer great variety whilst synthetic fibre developments have brought quality carpets at affordable prices.

The importance of using heavy domestic carpet in areas which get heavy household wear cannot be overstressed and, combined with the use of the lighter qualities in areas which do not receive the same volume of traffic, will be more beneficial in the long term.

FITTING
Your carpet should, of course, be fitted by a trained carpet fitter as carpet fitting is a skilled operation. Any raw or cut edges should be seamed, taped or adequately protected to avoid fraying. Regarding seams, to a certain extent the nature of the area can dictate how the carpet may be best laid, considering the width of the carpeting being used and the permanent features of the room, but the general recommendation is that where possible:
• seams should run the length of the area
• traffic should run along rather than across the seam
• seams are placed away from areas subject to heavy or twisting wear, e.g. doorways, stair noses or areas of narrow access
• cross joins on a stair should be avoided if at all possible