Since there isn't a general flooring forum and I am looking to replace my existng carpeting, this seemed the most appropriate place. My wife and I recently tried to sell our hosue and move farther south. After 4 months on the market, numerous open houses, price dropping, etc. (plus someone bought the house we had built down south), we pulled the house off the market for now (maybe try again next year if the economy is better). Anyway, everyone said the house showed well with the exception that the carpets (1st and 2nd floor) looked dirty. We have steam cleaned them ourselves and even had a professional come out about 3 years ago. I think they are just cheap builder's grade carpets (original carpeting, 8 year old house). Since this seemed to be the only area most people noted, I would like to change it before we put our house on the market again. And since we plan on moving, I don't want to spend a ton of money for something I may only get a year's worth of use out of. I have looked into carpeting, cork, etc. What is the least expensive, durable flooring that could be installed. First floor is slab on grade, second floor is a wooden subfloor. I have done some laminate flooring install, so I am not opposed (obviously since I am on this site) to something that is DIY. I don't want cheap stuff that I would have to repace in 6 months, but I also don't see spending $3k for something that I will not get to enjoy for more than a few months to a year. Any thoughts are appreciated. The area to redo is about 600 sf or so plus a stairway. Thanks, Neil

Hello! Question for you...I am replacing some carpet in the home I recently purchased. I ripped out the old carpet and pad yesterday and found the carpet tack strips to be in pretty good shape throughout the room. I don't see any rust on them, but they are a little bent to the side, perhaps from when I ripped out the old carpet (my first time doing it). Or is it not a big deal if they are bent a little? Also, more importantly, I noticed that in some parts of the room there are two sets of tack strips next to each other, and then in some parts of the room there is only a single strip. There apparently doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, as the second strip stops and starts randomly. Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!!:) -R.F.