Ignorance is bliss but read and understand the carpet warranty before you buy!
When you’re shopping for carpet and the salesperson begins to over stress that a given carpet has a 10 or 20 Year Wear Warranty!!! You should perhaps begin to question how honest he has been with everything he’s told you.
The carpet may well have such a warranty. The problem is that the salesperson may be trying to trade upon a very common consumer misunderstanding regarding the definition of the word wear. Ignorance of the factory’s definition of wear may lead to being unsatisfied with your purchase in a short period of time.
Many people think that the word ‘wear’ in the warranty has to do with carpet performance; that it will keep its pleasing appearance for 10 years, won’t pack down or ugly out for the life of the warranty. Not so!
The fact is that wear warranties have very little if anything to do with a carpet’s long-term appearance or with wear as most consumers define the word. All a wear warranty guarantees is that no more than 10% of the yarn will ‘wear away’ for the life of the warranty. Nothing more!
The pile can pack, fray, pill and gnarl – It can ‘ugly out’ in every conceivable way, but none of these problems are covered by this warranty type if 90% of the carpet fibers stay intact.
If you want a warranty that covers appearance, (normal wear & tear) then you want a ‘performance warranty.’ But you should read it to learn what it covers and what it excludes.
Another point to Remember: Different yarn and carpet manufacturers can have different maintenance requirements. Be sure to read the requirement for maintaining the carpet you purchase, because violating these requirements instantly voids the warranty.