By Werner Braun President, Carpet and Rug Institute
Carpet that is manufactured today can last from seven to 12 years after it’s installed if it’s maintained correctly. It’s true – spend money wisely on proper care and maintenance now and carpet won’t “ugly out” and end up in the landfill before its time. A well-planned maintenance program keeps carpet where it belongs – on the floor – and your facility’s budget won’t hit the ceiling, either.

What does it cost – in terms of unrealized value and environmental footprint – when carpet is not kept up? The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) compiled these five real-life examples from various industry market segments:

MISTAKE # 1: COMMERCIAL BUILDING

Customer purchased 4,400 square yards of carpet at an installed cost of $183,000
+ Carpet design life was 11 years
– Carpet uglied out in 4 years
Customer lost $116,000 in value

MISTAKE #2: HOSPITALITY

Customer purchased 5,500 square yards of custom patterned cut pile carpet in a five-star hotel at $30 per yard for a total installed cost of $242,000
+ Carpet design life was 7 years
– Carpet uglied out in 4 years
Customer lost $103,000 in value

MISTAKE #3: FINANCIAL

Customer purchased 4,000 square yards of high-end nylon cut and loop carpet at $32 per yard for a bank on two floors of a high-rise building in a major city for a total installed cost of $227,000
+ Carpet design life was 7 years
– Carpet uglied out in 2 years
Customer lost $162,000 in value

MISTAKE #4: RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

Customer purchased 100 square yards of carpet at an installed cost of $3,100
+ Carpet design life was 7 years
– Carpet uglied out in 2 years
Customer lost $1,500 in value

MISTAKE #5: EDUCATIONAL BUILDING

Customer purchased 4,800 square yards of carpet at a cost of $67,200 less installation
+ Carpet design life was 12 years
– Carpet uglied out in 2 years
Customer lost $56,000 in value

To help protect your investment and avoid costly mistakes like these, the CRI developed its Seal of Approval testing and certification program for carpet cleaning products and equipment. CRI puts spot removers, in-tank and pre-spot solutions, deep cleaning extractors, cleaning systems, and commercial and residential vacuums through rigorous independent testing that meets international standards. The ones that pass CRI Seal of Approval testing have demonstrated they are effective at removing soil without harming the carpet’s appearance (like some other products do). More good news – testing shows that the best-performing products are not always the most expensive. The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval program offers the best possible scenario for facility managers -- effective choices that are cost-effective as well.

Seal of Approval-certified products are listed on CRI’s web site, www.carpet-rug.org. If you want to find a carpet cleaning professional who uses the products and equipment that have been certified to work, they are listed, too. Just enter your ZIP Code to find one in your area.