59 Welby Street, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6EA
Free measuring and quoting, no obligation
01476 593199

Carpets in Grantham, supplied and fitted

If you know what you want, come and look at the samples. If you haven't a clue, that's fine too, and honestly it's the more common starting point. Tell us the room and how it gets used and we'll narrow a few hundred options down to about five.

Est. 1993, over 30 years in the trade Measured and fitted by our own team

Carpet is still the biggest part of what we do. We've been fitting it from this shop on Welby Street for over 30 years, and we measure, supply and lay all of it ourselves.

Choosing a carpet, without the jargon

Choosing

Three decisions, in this order.

Decision 1

What's it made of?

Wool is the traditional choice. It feels better than anything else, it holds its appearance for years, it's naturally warm and it's naturally flame retardant. It costs more and it doesn't love a spilled glass of red.

Polypropylene is the practical one. It's hard to stain, it takes bleach-based cleaning without losing colour, and it handles the kind of traffic that kids and dogs generate. It doesn't feel quite as good underfoot as wool and it can flatten sooner in a busy area.

Wool blends, usually 80% wool and 20% synthetic, are the middle ground and they're what a lot of people end up with. Most of the feel of wool with better durability.

Polyester and nylon turn up in softer, plusher carpets. Very soft underfoot, good colour range.

Decision 2

How is it made?

Twist pile has the yarn twisted tightly so the fibres stand up rather than lie flat. It's the most forgiving of footprints and vacuum marks, and it's the usual recommendation for stairs, landings and anywhere busy.

Saxony is a longer, more luxurious pile. Beautiful in a bedroom, and it shows every footprint, which some people love and others cannot live with.

Loop pile, including Berber, has the yarn left in loops rather than cut. Hard-wearing and textured. Worth knowing that a claw catching a loop can pull it, so it isn't the automatic choice if you've got cats.

Decision 3

What colour, and how honest are you being about your life?

The most common regret we hear is a light carpet in a busy hallway. Mid tones and flecked patterns hide day-to-day life far better than a flat pale colour or a flat dark one. Take samples home before you decide, and look at them at night as well as in daylight. Shop lighting is nobody's friend.

Choosing a carpet, without the jargon
Underlay

Underlay, which matters more than people think

Underlay is the cheapest way to make a carpet feel expensive.

It softens the floor, it insulates against cold coming up from below, it deadens sound between floors, and it takes a lot of the wear that would otherwise go into the carpet itself. A mid-range carpet on good underlay will feel and last better than an expensive carpet on cheap underlay.

There's a range of thicknesses and densities and they suit different rooms. A thick, soft underlay is lovely in a bedroom and wrong on a staircase, where you want something denser and more stable underfoot. If you've got underfloor heating you need a low-tog underlay, or the heat stays under the floor where it's no use to anybody.

We'll recommend what suits the room and the carpet.

Book a Free Measure
Underlay, which matters more than people think
Stairs

Stairs and landings

Stairs are the hardest carpet job in any house, and they're where the difference between a good fitter and a cheap one shows up first.

Every step is measured and cut individually. Winders, the wedge-shaped steps on a turn, are cut and fitted one at a time. The carpet has to be pulled tight over each nosing so it doesn't work loose under years of feet. Get any of it wrong and you'll see it, usually within a year, as a ripple or a gap along a riser.

We fit a lot of stairs. It's also the job most worth paying properly for.

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Stairs and landings
Real life

Carpet in a house with pets or children

Worth being realistic rather than optimistic.

Go for a mid-tone, flecked or patterned carpet rather than a flat colour. Choose a twist pile, which recovers from being walked on far better than a plush. Lean towards polypropylene or a wool blend rather than pure wool, because you'll want to clean it properly without worrying. Avoid loop pile if you've got a cat.

And put a decent doormat down. It's the least glamorous advice in this trade and it does more for the life of a carpet than anything else.

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Carpet in a house with pets or children
Aftercare

Looking after it

Vacuum regularly, more often than feels necessary, because most carpet wear is grit being ground into the base of the pile rather than anything on the surface.

Blot spills, never rub. Rubbing pushes the stain into the backing and spreads it.

Move furniture slightly every so often so the pile doesn't compress permanently in the same spots.

New carpet sheds loose fibres for the first few weeks. That's normal, it isn't a fault, and it stops.

What we stock

What we stock in the showroom

Samples on a screen are a guess. Samples in your hand, in daylight, are a decision. The showroom's on Welby Street, with free street parking nearby.

Our work

Recent work, in real houses

Every floor in this gallery is one of ours, laid in a real house, usually somewhere in or around Grantham. No stock photos, no show homes.

See All Our Work →
FAQ

Fast answers for busy households

The things people ring us to ask, answered plainly. If yours isn't here, call 01476 593199.

How much does it cost to carpet a room?

It depends on the size and shape of the room, the carpet you choose, the underlay, and whether there's an old floor to lift and take away. That's why we measure before quoting rather than working off a price per square metre, which almost never survives contact with a real room. The measure is free and there's no obligation.

How long does carpet fitting take?

A simple rectangular room is usually two to three hours. Stairs take longer, because each step is fitted individually. A whole house is normally a full day or more. We'll give you a realistic time when we quote, and if the room needs clearing first that adds to it.

How long should a carpet last?

It varies enormously with quality, traffic and how well it's looked after. A good carpet in a bedroom can last a very long time. The same carpet in a hallway will not. Underlay makes a real difference, which is why we go on about it.

Do I need underlay?

Yes, unless the carpet has a foam or felt backing built in. Underlay is what makes the carpet feel right, keeps it looking right, and protects it from wear. It's the last place to save money.

What's the best carpet for stairs?

A twist pile, in a mid tone. Twist recovers from footfall better than a plush or saxony, and stairs take more concentrated traffic than anywhere else in the house. Avoid long piles, and be careful with loop piles on stairs.

Can you fit carpet over floorboards?

Usually yes, provided the boards are sound, level and don't move. If they're uneven or springy we'd normally board over them or level them first, because every dip and every gap will eventually show through the carpet. We'll tell you when we measure.

Do you take the old carpet away?

It's worth agreeing up front, because disposal costs money and it's better priced into the written quote than sprung on you afterwards. Ask us when we come and measure.

Do you cover my village?

We cover Grantham and the surrounding area. Ring us with your postcode and we'll tell you straight away.

Get started

Ready for a floor that lasts?

Book a free carpet measure. We'll come out, measure properly, bring samples if you want them, and give you a written quote. Free, and no obligation.

Carpets fitted by Welby St. Carpets
Call 01476 593199