Carpets dress our hallways and rooms stylishly. It seems that they’re going to last for a lifetime, but they won’t likely to because of constant wear-and-tear.
There’s also the possibility of them getting torn and damaged. Small tears and frays can still be patched up, but big ones may need to be entirely replaced, or your decor will look shabby.
So it’s important to know the expiration date of your carpets whether it’s at home or in your office. This prevents unwanted hassle and makes the process of replacing them smoother and faster.
Now, in this article, we’ll look at the average lifespan of carpets, the factors that affect it, and how often you’d have to maintain them.
The Average Lifespan of Carpets
In general, carpets last between 5 to 15 years with the average lifespan being 10 years.
The carpet material (consisting of fiber and padding), the amount of foot traffic, and maintenance frequency play a huge role in determining how long they will last.
Even great-quality carpets in an infrequently used room can start to deteriorate after 10 years. This comes in the form of faded colors, poorer padding, and worn threads.
A Brief Look at Carpet Lifetimes
Looking at factors like the carpet’s use and environment, you can predict how long it will last.
5 Years or Less
This is the low end of the scale of a carpet’s lifespan. It is rare among homeowners, but this happens mostly in apartments and rental homes.
In these properties, landlords don’t expect their carpets to be treated with care by their tenants. And so they invest in cheap carpets that will look dilapidated within a few years.
It could also be that the carpets were flooded by sewer backups, leaking, or a storm. If this happens, make sure to get a water damage specialist right away to dry, clean, and sanitize them.
10 Years or Less
As we said, how we treat carpets can affect their longevity. So the carpets can last longer if they’ve been treated as carefully as possible.
Carpets lasting a decade are normal. Contributing to this is a durable material like polyester or nylon and maybe having just a couple of kids that run around the house.
Besides that, the carpets are maintained every year or two to keep them looking amazing, soft, and fresh.
15 Years
On the other hand, carpets that last this long have very minimal foot traffic, are well cared for, and are made of good material.
Although the carpet can look a bit drab after all those years, it’s still good enough to have at home, are soft underfoot, and periodically cleaned with a vacuum and professional assistance.
20 Years to 30 Years
If a carpet lasts this long, then most likely the homeowner did their research by buying its type (which can be nylon or wool) and meticulously caring for and maintaining it in order to extend its life.
And it’s reasonable to say that the owner may have no kids or pets that play and run around the carpets often either from inside or outside the house.
How often do you have to maintain your carpets?
Carpet cleaning experts recommend that your carpets be cleaned once a year to remove their grime, dust, and allergens.
However, if you have pets, children, or smokers at home, you have to clean the carpets more often, preferably every 6 to 12 months to prolong their life and improve the indoor air quality.
