Carpets are a popular flooring choice for many homes and businesses, but at the same time, they are also a big investment, which begs the question: how long do carpets last? In this post, we will look into all the details of managing expectations, and making buying choices accordingly.
In the second part of the post we will also provide you with useful advice and tips to make your carpets last longer, so you can make the most of them, prolonging their lifespan.
But first, back to our original question:
How long do carpets actually last?
The answer, unfortunately, is that it depends.
Carpets can last anywhere from a few years to a few decades, depending on how they are used and how well they are maintained. While carpet maintenance is a biggie in defining the lifespan of a carpet, it is not the biggest one. The most important one is how you use it.
There are two basic ways to think about the longevity and durability of carpets.
First, consider where it will be used, which is basically saying how heavy the use of the carpet is expected to be.
Second, consider what kind of carpet you’re interested in.
If you go through all these aspects and considerations, while the tradeoff will still be yours to make, I’m convinced that you’ll be in a much better position to make an informed decision. So, let’s get started.
How long does a carpet last in a Home?
Carpets are a popular choice for flooring in many homes, as they are comfortable and stylish.
And home is an environment where one is mostly interested in comfort, style, and coziness.
While the answer to the question, as well as the actual lifespan in years of a carpet can vary in a broad range, a good rule of thumb is to expect that with proper care and maintenance, carpets can last for up to 15 years, even with everyday use.
This is particularly true when you pay attention to a few simple things that will increase the longevity of your carpets.
We’ll go into all of the details later, we just mention the single most important of these simple tricks: one of the best ways to extend the life of your carpet is to avoid wearing shoes on it.
Shoes can track in dirt and other debris that can grind into the fibers and cause wear.
So, with shoes off at the entrance door, your carpets will be in a safe environment for a good decade and a half, and you will be able to enjoy them for much longer than you normally would.
How long does a carpet last in a House?
Things begin to get complicated when your home is directly attached to the outside world via a patio or a garden. Because it is fair to say that when your home is a house, you won’t be able to keep your shoes off all the time.
Which will, unfortunately, affect the lifespan of your carpets. And not in a good way.
With that said, many factors play a role in how long a carpet will last in your house – from the type of fibers used to how often it’s vacuumed.
In general, even if you live in a house and not in an apartment, quality carpets can still last anywhere from 5 to 15 years with proper care and maintenance.
A big caveat here (that we will touch upon later) is if you have kids or pets, your carpet will likely need to be replaced sooner than if you live alone and don’t wear shoes inside.
Vacuuming regularly is key to extending the life of your carpet, as it helps to remove dirt, dust, and other debris that can damage the fibers. In addition, you should have your carpet professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months to remove deep-seated dirt and stains.
How Long Do Carpets Last in high-traffic areas?
Foot traffic is one of the biggest factors determining how long a carpet will last.
High-traffic areas such as entryways and hallways will usually show signs of wear long before other parts of the carpet. The difference between a “normal” room and a high-traffic area in terms of when the very same carpet will first show visible damage can be measured in years. So it’s vast.
If your high-quality carpet will last, say, 10 years in your bedroom, it is likely to show the first signs of wear and tear just after a couple of years in your busy hallway or around the sofa in your living room.
This is because dirt and debris get ground into the fibers, leading to matting and premature deterioration. So if you think about it in another way, it’s not the actual foot traffic that damages the carpet, but rather the foot traffic combined with the inevitable dirt it comes with.
How to make carpets in high-traffic areas last longer?
It might sound counterintuitive at first, but regular vacuuming can help to extend how long do carpets last. Counterintuitive, as one would assume that the scratch of the vacuum will also contribute to wearing out the carpet. But surprisingly enough, the benefits of vacuuming (ie. less dust and debris) far outweigh the light touch of the vacuum’s brushes. So, by all means, keep your carpets clean, and that will buy you additional years in the lifespan of your floor covering.
How Long Should Carpets Last in a Rental?
Carpets are not cheap, and if you are the landlord, you want them to last as long as possible. Whereas if you are renting the home, you will always go for a carpet in pristine shape. If possible, new.
As it happens, a rental comes with all of these conflicts of interest between the landlord and the tenant.
The landlord’s interest is to maintain the carpet as frequently as possible and replace it as late as possible. The tenant’s interest is the exact opposite.
So, where do we go from here?
If you consider that, a carpet can last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, in the case of rentals it’s better to expect to be somewhere on the lower end of the spectrum. Unless it’s a luxurious rental (in which case, a carpet in pristine, new-like shape is non-negotiable), or a run-down room rented out for a few bucks (in which case having a carpet is a bigger deed than the quality of the carpet), a good rule of thumb to expect to replace the carpet every 5-7 years.
If possible, time the replacement for when the tenants leave, and new ones move in. This will save both you and your tenants from a lot of trouble and hassle.
How Long Do Carpets Last on Stairs?
How long do carpets last on stairs? This is yet another tricky question.
Carpets are a difficult surface to keep clean, and they are also more likely to scratch or slip. This is especially true for low-pile carpets – which are easier to vacuum clean but will result in a more slippery surface than higher-pile ones.
But all this won’t necessarily result in shorter lifespans of stair carpets, as there are other factors to weigh in as well. Such as how often the stairs are used, how well they are cared for, and what type of carpet is used.
In general, however, carpets on stairs should last several years with proper care, and there should not be any significant differences between a carpet used on stairs and one used in a living room.
How Long Does A carpet Last with Pets?
Pets, rugs, and carpets always result in the million-dollar question. But if you think about it, it’s a no-brainer, really: pets will most definitely decrease the lifespan of a carpet or a rug.
Just think about all the things that could go wrong:
- Pets’ paws and nails are usually more rigid than our soles.
- Pets will sometimes byte and scratch the carpet or the rug
- Occasional accidents are also bound to happen. Yes, pets will sometimes pee or poop on the carpet.
- And pets, unlike you, cannot take their shoes off when coming in from outside, and before stepping on the carpet.
So, the best way to think about pets is like increased foot traffic. How long do carpets last when you take that into account? Perhaps substracting 3 to 5 years from the original lifespan of your carpet is a good place to start.
How long do wool carpets Last?
Wool carpets are often seen as a luxurious investment and for good reason.
They’re made from natural fibers, which makes them more durable than synthetic options. But the flip side of the same coin is that they’re also expensive, so you want to be sure you’re getting a quality product that will last.
So how long do wool carpets actually last? With proper care, they can last for decades.
That said, they’re not indestructible, and it’s still possible for them to suffer wear and tear over time. But if you take care of your wool carpets, they should give you many years of enjoyment.
How Long Does Nylon Carpet Last?
Nylon is a durable synthetic fiber that is often used in high-traffic areas such as offices and hotel lobbies.
This is because nylon is the single most durable synthetic fiber when it comes to carpets. Nylon carpets can last for 10-15 years with proper care even in commercial settings like in a hotel, or an office.
In contrast, wool carpets are more delicate and in these heavy-duty environments may only last for 5-10 years.
Ultimately, the lifespan of a carpet depends how not just on how it is used but also on how well it is maintained. Which is particularly true if the demand on the carpet is bigger than usual.
How Long do Carpet Tiles Last?
Carpet tiles are an increasingly popular choice for both home and business owners due to their practicality and long lifespan.
Unlike traditional carpet, which often needs to be replaced in its entirety after a few years of wear and tear, carpet tiles can be partially replaced as needed.
This allows for a much more cost-effective and efficient way to maintain your carpeted floors. Additionally, carpet tiles are extremely versatile and can be used to create unique designs.
Whether you’re looking for a durable flooring solution for your high-traffic areas or a way to add some personality to your space, carpet tiles are a genius option.
So, how long do carpet tiles last? You may have to replace a tile here and there, but when it comes to the overall structure, carpet tiles add to the longevity of the entire carpet a good few years.
If you choose a high-quality carpet tile, with ample spare tiles, it is fair to assume that you won’t have to replace the carpet in its entirety in the next 15-20 years.
What are the signs That your carpet needs replacing?
This is all good and nice, however, even with the most scrupulous care, no carpet will last forever. Eventually, your carpet will need to be replaced.
Here are some of obvious the signs to look for.
Stubborn stains that are impossible to clean
First, if they are starting to show serious stains or signs of wear and tear, it’s probably time for new carpets.
At one point that beige carpet seemed like a smart choice, due to its versatile color.
But a few years later it is now covered with coffee, red wine, spaghetti sauce stains, and who know what else! Will you have to contend with these pesky messes for the rest of your life?
For some of these stains, the solution could simply be a professional. A professional cleaner can help remove most odors from carpets but even professional cleaners won’t be able to make your 10-year-old carpet new.
There are always other options such as covering up stinky spots by putting furniture over them instead -though this may not work out too well either since we’ve seen how easily things go uncovered.
If stains and dirt spiral out of control, it’s an unmistakable sing: you need new carpets.
Mold and other water and humidity-related damage
If your carpet is showing signs of water damage or mold, it’s time to replace it. Carpet is an important part of any home, and it should be kept in good condition.
Water damage and mold can cause the carpet to break down, making it difficult to clean and requiring replacement sooner. Needless to say that mold is also a health risk to everyone who uses the rugs, most importantly for pets and kids who breathe in the fungi, the mold is made of simply by virtue of being closer to the rug than adults generally are.
If you see any signs of water damage or mold on your carpet, replace it as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your home or to your health.
Odors that just won’t go Away
If you’ve had your carpet for more than a few years, it’s probably starting to show its age.
Stains are harder to remove, and it may even have a few permanent indentations from furniture or foot traffic.
But the most telling sign that it’s time for a new carpet is a funky smell that just won’t go away. This is usually related to our previous point because most odor-related issues are caused by water damage, mold, or mildew. And it can be very difficult if at all possible to clean properly.
Not only is it unsightly, but it can also be dangerous for your health. If you notice any musty smells coming from your carpet, it’s best to replace it as soon as possible.
Aesthetics and Style
Fun fact: do you know why most carpets are replaced? (And why do millions of tons of carpets and rugs end up in landfills every year?)
They go out of fashion.
While longevity and durability are considerations of utmost importance for most people, well, so is style. We live in a consumer society. We tend to buy things that live much longer than we end up using them. Because there’s always newer, nicer, trendier – and we just fall for it.
And that’s okay.
If your carpets are simply out of fashion, you won’t need us to tell you that you may want to think about replacing them. You will do it anyway.
Conclusion: How Long will Your Carpets Last
Carpets are a long-term investment. With that said, they just won’t last forever – nothing will.
With regular vacuuming, quality carpets will last for around five to 15 years.
The lifespan of a carpet, however, largely depends on the type of carpet, the amount of traffic it gets, and how well it is maintained.
For example, nylon carpets are more durable than polyester carpets, and low-pile carpets are more resistant to crushing than high-pile carpets.
Conclusion 2: How can you make your carpets last longer?
Finally, let’s wrap it up by reiterating all the easy but important things you can do to make your carpets last longer (like, muuuuch longer…)
If you’re hoping to extend the lifespan of your carpet, there are a few things you can do on your own to help.
- First, vacuum regularly – at least once a week – to remove dirt, dust and other debris that can prematurely break down fibers.
- Second, but just as important: you should always take off your shoes before walking on carpeted areas, as dirt and gravel can cause lasting damage.
- In addition, it’s a good idea to have carpets professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months to remove built-up dirt and grime.
- Finally, you want to clean new stains fresh, if possible immediately.
By following these simple tips, you can keep your carpets looking like new for years to come.