Plush
Plush carpet has a uniform cut pile with a smooth, soft surface. The even surface gives a room a formal, finished look, and it shows footprints and vacuum marks more than a textured carpet does.
Consider for: Bedrooms, formal living rooms
Carpet Installation · Oswego and the Western Suburbs
CARPET INSTALLATION, MOST JOBS DONE IN A DAY
Choose from 10 carpet lines, including Mohawk and Shaw, with samples brought to your home. Carpet, pad and basic installation all appear on one itemized estimate.
Authorized Mohawk & Shaw DealerFree In-Home Consultation5-Year Installation WarrantyItemized Estimates
What Goes Into a Carpet Installation
Three things decide how a carpet job turns out: the style and fiber, the pad underneath, and the prep the floor needs. On a Strictly Carpet & Flooring estimate, the carpet line covers the carpet, the pad, and the basic installation.
Everything else the job requires is listed separately: tear-out and haul-away of the old floor, moving and resetting furniture, base work, transitions, and floor prep. You see each cost, and you can handle some of that work yourself if you prefer. Custom stairs and raised platforms fall outside a standard installation and are quoted separately.
We also handle carpet replacement, carpet repair, and tear-out and haul-away.
Explore Carpet Styles
Style is the way the yarn is cut, looped, or twisted. It changes how the carpet looks underfoot, how the room feels, and how much the surface shows footprints and vacuum marks.
Plush
Berber
Berber is a level loop pile set in tight rows. The uncut loops give a dense, flat surface with a casual texture.
Consider for: Basements, stairs, family rooms
Level loop
Level loop carpet leaves the yarn uncut at a consistent height, producing a firm, low surface.
Consider for: Basements, offices, rooms with rolling furniture
Pattern
Pattern carpet combines cut and loop pile at alternating heights to build a texture or geometric design into the surface. Seams are planned so the pattern stays aligned across the room.
Review: Seam placement, room shape, pattern scale
Cut-and-loop
Cut loop carpet combines cut and looped fibers to create a sculpted, patterned surface.
The Brands We Carry
As an authorized dealer, we carry carpet from Dreamweaver, Pentz, Mohawk, Tarkett, Shaw, Dixie Home, Anderson Tuftex, Stanton, Antrim, and Southwind.
See them at our showroom at 37B Stone Hill Road, Oswego.
You can also book a free in-home consultation. We measure the rooms and bring samples to your home, so you judge color and texture against your own walls and light.
Understand Carpet Fiber
Fiber is what the yarn is made of. It is one of the main things that separates two carpets that look similar.
Nylon
Nylon is used across a wide range of carpet constructions and styles, from plush to loop.
Compare: Construction, texture, product warranty
Polyester
Polyester takes color deeply and is often chosen for its hand, the way the carpet feels to the touch.
Compare: Color, softness, price
Triexta
Triexta is a more recent fiber, and its stain resistance is part of the fiber itself rather than a coating applied to the surface.
Compare: Cleaning, spills, product warranty
Wool
Wool is a natural carpet fiber made from sheep's fleece. Its texture and feel depend on how the carpet is made.
Compare: Texture, softness, care instructions
The Pad Under Your Carpet
On a Strictly Carpet & Flooring estimate, the carpet line covers the carpet, the pad, and the installation.
Density and thickness
Pad density and thickness change how the floor feels underfoot. Carpet manufacturers specify what their product requires, and a thicker pad is not automatically the right one.
Review: Carpet specification, room use, underfoot feel
Moisture barrier
Moisture-barrier pad adds a film layer between the carpet and the subfloor.
Consider for: Basements, pets, lower levels
Stairs and busy rooms
Pad selection for stairs and heavily used rooms depends on the carpet specification and how the space is used.
Review: Stair nosing, traffic, carpet specification
Choose Carpet by Room
Bedrooms
In bedrooms, homeowners often prioritize softness and appearance. Plush and other soft-surface constructions give you several options to compare.
Basements
Below-grade rooms bring different moisture and temperature considerations. Compare carpet construction, fiber, pad, and manufacturer requirements when choosing carpet for a basement.
Stairs
Stairs put carpet across multiple treads, risers, and edges. Pattern carpet needs its alignment planned step by step, while runners leave the tread edges exposed.
Family rooms and hallways
Family rooms and hallways can see concentrated traffic through the same paths each day. Compare surface texture, construction, and fiber when choosing carpet for these spaces.
Carpet Installation Questions
How much does carpet installation cost?
It depends on the carpet you choose and the square footage. On a Strictly Carpet & Flooring estimate, the carpet line covers the carpet, the pad, and the installation. Tear-out, furniture moving, base work, transitions, and floor prep are listed separately. The in-home consultation and measure are free.
Is the carpet pad included?
Yes. The carpet line on your estimate includes the carpet, the pad, and the installation.
What type of padding should I get?
Our standard pad is a ½” 8lb Masterbond pad. If you are worried about spills or pet stains, we also offer a ½” 8lb Moisture Barrier pad. If you don’t want something as thick, to accommodate a wheelchair or walker, or you just want something thinner, we also offer a 28oz felt pad option.
What's the difference between Nylon vs Polyester fiber?
Nylon is the more durable fiber than Polyester, but you typically pay on average $2-$4 a square foot more for nylon.
What is the warranty on carpet?
We offer a 5-year installation warranty on all carpet installations. The manufacturer warranty varies depending on which carpet you select. Manufacturer warranties typically range from 15 to 25 years and cover things such as stain resistance, fade resistance, pet stain resistance, soil resistance, abrasive wear resistance, texture retention, and manufacturing defects. Some, if not all, are limited warranties (please see your exact carpet warranty information for details). Most do not cover stairs in their warranty, but some do. Warranties are not transferable.
How long will installation take?
It depends on how large your project is. Most jobs can be finished in a day, but larger jobs may take 2 days, depending on the square footage, whether there is furniture, whether there is tear-out of existing flooring, and so on.
Do you move furniture?
Yes. We move large furniture, including beds, dressers, china cabinets, tables, sofas, desks, and entertainment centers. We ask you to clear small items, anything on the floor or in closets, and to disconnect electronics in the work area. We are not able to move pool tables, fish tanks, or large pianos.
Can you do custom runners and area rugs?
Yes, we can. We can do custom runners, whether for your stairs or as a runner rug for a hallway. We can also make an area rug in any shape or size you want. We can customize the edging, and we have padding and backing options available.
What is the difference between Hollywood and Waterfall stairs?
At Strictly Carpet & Flooring, our standard is to install all wall-to-wall stairs Hollywood style. This style wraps tightly around the nosing of the tread and is then stapled under the stair nose. Some installations require Waterfall style, or if you prefer this style, we can do that too. Waterfall cascades the carpet down each step. It is installed straight down the riser to the next step or tread without being secured under the nosing, which gives it a waterfall effect.
How often should I vacuum my carpet?
Carpet should be vacuumed regularly, especially in high-traffic areas. The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends vacuuming twice a week. If that isn’t possible, we recommend once a week, and if possible, vacuuming high-traffic areas twice a week.
How often should I have my carpet professionally cleaned?
Follow your manufacturer’s warranty guidelines, but carpet should be professionally cleaned every 12–18 months. Manufacturers will want you to keep the cleaning receipts in case a carpet claim issue arises.
Schedule a Free In-Home Carpet Consultation
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