Carpet mileage

[Reggie Maggard]

how much mileage can I expect to get outta carpet?

[Mike H.]

I would second those posts.

The length of time definitely depends on the type/quality of carpet you're putting in.

In a couple of my earlier rentals, I was going with the standard tan contractor grade carpet. It does not wear well.  

But after those first few, I switched over to the midgrade frieze (1.25 to 1.35 per sq ft at lowes).  Stuff cleans out amazingly well.   I've got houses upwards of 5 years with it and it looks every bit as good as when I put it in.

There are always exceptions though. Had a tenant that trashed the carpet in one room. I think they had a combination of pets and kids in the room and the carpet was totaled. I can guarantee they never vacuumed that room once in the year or so they were there.

Replaced that one room with laminate and called it a day. Wasn't too bad. The rest of the house was fine. And I had no intention of trying to match that carpeting.

That is the one thing, though, that most people forget.  When you ask how long will carpet last, you're really not going to see carpet in the whole house go out at one time. What typically happens is you end up with a bad tenant that damages one room of carpeting.   So you don't need to replace the entire house. Just the one room. And since I can't stand seeing carpet in a house that doesn't match, I just throw laminate in that one room and call it a day. I seem to be just fine with having different types of laminates in a house.....

I actually think you can get 10 or more years with the frieze if you go with the mid-grade stuff and a decent pad.  You'll likely have to replace a room or two of it with laminate during that 10 year run but so what.   You're still coming out ahead doing that then putting in laminate in the whole from the get go.

And to be honest, laminate can be damaged too. So its not like that stuff is bullet proof either. :-)