Maintenance  Investing Underfoot - Long Lasting Carpets Carpets make up a great deal of your building's interior, and replacement can be costly. Consider these factors when it's time to replace your carpets. Consider the total life/cycle cost. That's the cost of the carpet and its upkeep, divided over the number of years you expect to use it. Also consider the effect of acoustics, energy savings (through potential insulating effect) and the cost of disposal and downtime for replacement. Consider the environment. Traffic patterns - heavy or light? Close to external doors (which will track in outside dirt and moisture). Wheeled equipment or chairs. Does the nature of your environment suggest that food or beverages may be spilled? All that should give you an idea of whether your emphasis is on sturdiness, stain resistance, aesthetic appeal, etc. Also consider the material. Wool looks the best but can be costly. It also wears the fastest. Nylon resists crushing and abrasion. Olefin isn't as crush-resistant as nylon but resists staining better. Density - A higher density carpet holds up a lot better to heavy traffic. As you'd expect, it costs more. Since parts of your floor may have more traffic than others, you can be smart on density - many manufacturers offer the SAME PATTERN in different densities, so you can put your money where it counts. Backing - If crushing is important, backing makes the difference, since it's how the carpet transfers weight, like the shocks in your car. Good backing also needs to be able to stand up under chemical treatments and spills, while being resistant to moisture and odors. Sadly, you may not have much choice of backing, but by asking the right questions, you might pick one manufacturer over another. You can also probably choose whether or not to have the carpet glued directly to the floor or placed on cushion. Cushion adds cost but provides many benefits, from energy and acoustic savings to increased life and appeal. Maintenance - Maintenance is key. Most manufacturers provide guidelines to what kind and how much maintenance is needed. Regular vacuuming is critical, whether the carpet "looks dirty" or not. Unvacuumed particles will lead to ground in stains.