I would do a different style/color in the playroom - just a cheap off the roll at HD or Lowes and worry about replacing the entire thing later when the kids get older.

Assuming your kids are young, I'd mentally think of the whole carpet as "temporary" and just do the section. Down the road, when the kids are more responsible and the rest of the carpet is wearing out, I'd replace the whole thing.

OP here: we bought the house in Nov and we plan on staying a LOOOOONG time (hopefully). the piece that got wet and removed was a weird location - basically, our basemeent is giant square with the stairs coming down right in the middle, and the flood happened all along one wall, so it's not really a different section - it kind of crosses "3" sections - the front area (where we have a tv), along one whole side (where we have the kids toys) and along the back (where we have our exercise machines).

i wish i'd priced out the whole thing...

Could you divide off the room, and use different flooring on each section, and make it look like you meant it that way?

How long do you plan to stay in the house? If you expect to move within a couple years, I'd replace the whole thing now and count on it staying good enough for resale. If you think you'll be there 5+ years, I'd only replace a section - chances are good that you'll need another replacement before you move.

OP here: flood problem fixed. its a walk out basement. drain cover was blocked.

I'd sink my money into fixing the problem that caused the flood and ensuring it doesn't happen again and worry about floor covering later.

Anonymous wrote:I would do the whole carpet. Carpet isn't that expensive.

At least price it out both ways. A lot of the cost is the labor and getting the guys out to the house.

I would do the whole carpet. Carpet isn't that expensive.

Anonymous wrote:Just do the quick fix now--you'll probably replace the entire carpet anyway someday.

This. There's always a first flooding. Rarely a last.

I would just replace the section. Doesn't carpet only last 5-7 years, so 5 years from now, you could replace the whole thing?

Just do the quick fix now--you'll probably replace the entire carpet anyway someday.

I would likely replace the entire carpet rather than just a section. if it is too costly, would you prefer just ripping up the carpet and laying down area rugs instead?

our fairly large berber carpeted basement flooded. we had to remove 200 square feet of berber and i called the company who placed it and that particular design is no longer made. the closest match is a bit off, but the guy pointed out that even if the same pattern was made, it would likely look different due to the differences in batches. i said that was fine and decided to just replace that portion (about 1/4 of the basement) b/c its mostly a playroom

but now, i'm wondering about the future and thinking that someday, our kids will be older and it may just look messy and ridiculous. do i change the whole thing? it'll be super expensive... insurance isn't covering any of the damage b/c it was rainwater that got in.

wwyd?