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About The PAR Carpet Rating System
Understanding The P.A.R. Carpet Rating System
One of the ways carpet manufacturers have attempted to help consumers select a suitable carpet is with the P.A.R. Carpet Rating System, which stands for Performance, Appearance, and Retention.
These are three big words that mean very little to most carpet-shopping homeowners.
I get plenty of emails from folks who want to know what the PAR rating system is, what it means and how to apply it towards selecting the right grade of carpet. Sadly, it is a very confusing system that doesn’t really help most consumers make the right carpet choice. Even experienced carpet salespeople are confused about what the PAR numbers really mean or how to apply it to homeowners who have unique and varied family scenarios.
What is The P.A.R. Carpet Rating System?
The PAR carpet rating system was created by Shaw Industries, and designates a number from one-to-five, rating a carpet's durability based on a typical "family-of-four" scenario.
Homeowners are expected to understand that the higher the PAR Rating number the more durable the carpet will be. But will a carpet with a rating of 4 be durable enough for your home? How would you know unless you understand exactly how they determine the durability of a particular carpet.
While I'm sure carpet makers go to a lot of time and expense to provide their various carpet rating systems, I personally think most of these fall far short of being accurate or a helpful gauge of durability for most consumers. I think the PAR Rating System is not a trustworthy measure of "real life" carpet durability.
The parameters they use to make their conclusions are too narrow and far too inconsistent across the board with various styles and qualities of carpet. What does this mean? After 30 years in the carpet business I know one thing for sure, there is no such thing as a typical family of four!
Obviously, I do not put much faith in the PAR rating system or other rating guides and therefore do not recommend that any homeowner relies solely on any carpet rating system to determine what grade of carpet to buy.
I think there is a far better way to select the right carpet to meet your needs and goals. Take a look at my own special Carpet Durability Rating Chart below. It shows what I believe to be the best way to determine the durability of a given carpet based on its unique manufacturing specifications.
Learn More...
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What Grade of Carpet do I need to buy?
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How to Measure Carpet Yourself!
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Which Carpet Style Should I Select?
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Where can I find the Best Carpet Deals?
