Mohawk Ultra Strand Continuous Filament Nylon

Over the past few months we've received several messages from visitors to the site asking us about LifeProof carpet and what we think about it. So, here we have our Home Flooring Pros report as well as some LifeProof carpet reviews from consumers.

Read our carpet ratings post to learn about the other best carpet brands

LifeProof carpeting has been on our radar since its launch in 2015, and now, some years later, we have a better understanding of the pros and cons of this seemingly miraculous carpeting product.

LifeProof carpet is actually manufactured by industry giants Mohawk Flooring and sold exclusively at the Home Depot; the defining characteristic of LifeProof carpets is that the fibers used to make them have been engineered to give superior stain resistance and thus a higher carpet rating.

To get a sense of just how impressive the LifeProof stain resistance quality is, have a look at this promo where a white carpet is completely covered in stains and then cleaned as new afterwards!

Pros and Cons of LifeProof Carpet

There are several advantages that give LifeProof carpet is appeal:

Range:

The full range of styles and colors is quite extensive, currently there are over 100 LifeProof carpet designs each available in several different colors.

The range offers a good mix of styles and options, including textured carpets, twist carpets, loop and patterned carpets. So you're likely to find a LifeProof carpet color and texture that suits your décor style.

Price:

Life Proof carpets are well priced for a low to mid-range budget with prices, at time of writing, ranging from $1.79 per square foot to $7.19 per square foot.

Fibers:

The type of fiber used for each LifeProof carpet depends on its style, but it will be either one of, or a blend of triexta, BCF* nylon or BCF* polyester.

All of these fibers are known for having good texture retention (making them harder to dent or crush), being less prone to shedding and fuzzing, and being wear resistant. All positive carpet ratings indicators.

*BCF = bulked continuous filament; this refers to the way the fiber is produced to in one long strand, which is what prevents it from shedding.

Superior stain resistance:

LifeProof carpets not only use fibers that are known for being good at resisting stains, but Home Depot also say that the way that these fibers are engineered means that the stain resistance is integrated right into the fiber, so it will not wear or wash away.

Free installation:

Home Depot offers LifeProof carpeting with a free installation service (usually dependent on a minimum spend) via teams of local subcontractors.

This makes the whole process from purchase to installation fairly easy, though there are concerns about this service that you should consider (see below).

The disadvantages of LifeProof carpet are:

Exclusivity and installation concerns:

LifeProof carpet is only available at the Home Depot, meaning that you are unable to buy it through local carpet retailers; as mentioned it is also often sold with a free installation service.

Whilst the free installation deal may look great, the devil is in the detail and buyers should ask as many questions as possible about what exactly is included in the service (for example, will the installation team also pull up and remove existing carpet, does the offer include carpeting on stairs, provision of transitional strips, carpet pads…?)

Also, because it is exclusively available at the Home Depot, getting a deal that includes installation makes it tricky to compare LifeProof carpet with other carpets from independent retailers where installation isn't included. However, Lifeproof carpet is as straightforward to install as any other so getting quotes independently from local contractors is a good idea.

Cleaning and maintenance concerns:

This disadvantage is not specifically a concern for LifeProof carpets but some consumers found that the plusher LifeProof carpets were hard to vacuum – their vacuum cleaners literally couldn't move through the pile!

If this happens to you, you might find that reducing the power setting or raising the brush head (if possible) on your vacuum will help – if not then the only solution will be to buy a new vacuum specifically designed to cope with extra plush carpets!

Stubborn stains:

Whilst we cannot fault the general stain resistance of LifeProof carpets, it is true for all types of carpet, including LifeProof, that the quicker you deal with stains the better. There are no magic carpets on the market that will always resist every stain no matter what.

The technology integrated into LifeProof carpet fibers means that they do resist stains better in the immediate moment of the stain being produced. A stain that is discovered some time after the event that caused it may be tougher to remove.

Warranty concerns:

Buyers need to be sure that the LifeProof carpet that they buy has the correct warranty cover to suit your household needs or they may find that they are not fully covered for all types of stains/wear etc. See below for a more in-depth discussion of the Home Depot warranty.

LifeProof Carpet vs Stainmaster

When LifeProof was launched in 2015 industry commentators saw it as strong competition against the Pet Protect range from Stainmaster.

Both products have stain protection integrated into the actual fiber – as opposed to an added stain guard treatment; and both products (assuming you have the LifeProof with PetProof warranty) have good warranties against pet related stains.

The main difference between the two bands is that the Stainmaster carpets are made using a commercial grade nylon fiber, whilst LifeProof carpets can be either made from triexta, nylon or polyester or even be a blend of two of these fibers.

The other significant difference between them is that Stainmaster Pet Protect also claims to have an integrated technology that stops pet hair sticking to their carpets, making it easier to vacuum (good to know if your pet sheds a lot).

Cleaning, Care & Maintenance Tips

LifeProof carpets have the same cleaning and maintenance as other carpet brands. Home Depot recommends that you vacuum their carpets at least twice a week, clean spills promptly using warm water – with a blotting rather than rubbing motion – and get a professional (hot water extraction) carpet cleaning service every 12-18 months to comply with warranty requirements.

Warranty – What does LifeProof mean in practice?

During our research we became aware of an interesting fact: it would appear that not all LifeProof carpets have the same warranty. With the standard carpet warranty some stains such as mustard, blood, pet urine will not be covered, so be sure that the product you are buying has the Exclusive LifeProof Stain & Soil Warranty and, if you have pets, ensure that you get the LifeProof with PetProof technology Pet Stain Warranty.

If you have the correct level of warranty then you will be covered for most stain scenarios, except for oil or wax-based substance, including paint. If you find you have a stain that won't budge, be sure to get a certified professional carpet cleaning service to try removing the stain before contacting Home Depot to claim on your warranty.

The Home Depot warranties also include different levels of protection for wear and texture retention, so be sure to thoroughly read and question your in-store sales person so that you know exactly what is covered.

Finally, also beware the warranty will not be valid if the carpet pad under the carpet does not meet the HUD UM 729, Class 2 standard.

Price Comparison

In the table below you can see how LifeProof carpet prices compare with other leading brands:

Brand	Price per square foot
TrafficMaster	$0.65 – $3.39
Dream Weaver	$1.00 – $2.50
Mohawk Smartstrand	$1.99 – $3.99
Newton Carpet	$2.00 – $4.00
Mohawk Air.O	$2.90 – $3.60
Lifeproof	$1.52 – $7.19
Proximity Mills	$4.00 – $8.00
Doma Carpet	$4.00 – $10.00
Paradiso	$5.00 – $15.00
Fabrica	$6.00 – $16.00

Consumer Reviews

The Home Depot website has a raft of customer reviews for LifeProof carpeting, on the whole they are very positive, many customers commenting on how soft the carpets feel and how impressed they are with the stain resistance; however, some customers also mentioned that the plush carpets did mean having to adapt their current vacuum cleaner or buy a new one.

"Fantastic! Just installed a couple of weeks ago and we love it. It is super soft and thanks to the memory foam pad it's a pleasure to walk on. We did A LOT of research on carpet specs and this is great value for money. "Melanie, Michigan

Where customer reviews have been negative, this has general been to do with Home Depot subcontractors' installation processes not meeting their expectations, rather than the carpet product itself. We advise that you ask as many questions as possible if you plan to take up the Home Depot installation offer.

Conclusions

LifeProof carpeting has the double advantage of being manufactured by industry specialists – Mohawk Flooring – and sold by a reliable and trusted retailing company Home Depot. The stain resistance technology does work and there is a good range of styles to suit most decors.

We would recommend LifeProof product to homeowners on the proviso that they do due diligence to ensure they have the correct warranty level, adequate subfloor and carpet pad, and get satisfactory answers to questions regarding the Home Depot's installation service (if using it).

As with all flooring, best results will come from using experienced and qualified contractors.

Still deciding which type of carpet to buy? Check out some of our carpet guides:

Berber Carpet

Carpet Texture and Cut Pile Carpet

Frieze Carpet

About the Author:

Greca Fotopoulos

Greca is the lead style writer at Home Flooring Pros, with a BA in Technical Art, she's focused on flooring trends, flooring ideas, and flooring brand reports.

"There's nothing more satisfying than creating a home that you love. The hardest thing about this job is trying not to covet all the great floors I get to review; if I could remodel my home every month, I would!"

gabaldontiver1993.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.homeflooringpros.com/lifeproof-carpet/

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