If you are considering purchasing new carpet, there are many different types to choose from. There are some things you should consider before purchasing carpet. In this article I will try to explain the different styles of carpet and the fibers by which they are made.
Let me begin by going over the fiber type from which carpet is made. Carpet is made from nylon, olefin (polypropylene) and polyester (essentially the same as olefin) and wool. As far as durability goes, wool is the most durable fiber; nylon would come next with polyester and olefin being the least durable of the fibers. As you can well imagine, the more durable the carpet, the more expensive it will be.
If you want to get your money out of your carpet I recommend buying the best padding. A denser pad will extend the life of your carpet. A dense pad acts like a shock absorber to your carpet fibers. There are also many different types of padding as well. The three main types of carpet padding are re-bond, rubber, (waffle padding) and prime urethane. I recommend using an 8lb re-bond pad. If you are looking to buy carpet for you home, then you have essentially 4-5 styles to choose from.
The four main types of residential carpets: plush pile (cut), frieze, berber (loop), and cable yarn. There is also a cut and loop pile. If it is commercial carpet you are looking for then your choices are going to be either loop or plush pile. A frieze carpet is shag like carpet with tightly twisted yarn, made in either polyester or nylon. The tighter the twist in the fiber and the more threads per square per square inch, the more durable the carpet will be.
The big difference between polyester and nylon is the wear factor. Once again nylon is more durable; however there is a trade off. Polyester tends to be more stain resistance. Plush pile carpet either comes in trackless (tracks less) or Saxony (which has the velvet look and feel) it also shows vacuum cleaner marks. Berber carpets are primarily made from olefin, although some Berbers do have a nylon and olefin blend. Berber carpets can be purchased with a pattern or without one. The number one rule of thumb for Berber carpet is: the bigger the loop, the quicker it will wear out. A cable yarn carpet is essentially the same as a frieze, except that it is a thicker gauge yarn. A cut and loop is both a cut and loop pile carpet. This particular type of carpet is usually made into patterned carpet.
Wool carpet is made mostly in the berber form. Karastan is the most popular brand of wool carpet and one of the most expensive. Another thing to consider is whether the carpet is a continuous filament fiber or a staple yarn (They like to call it spun yarn because it sounds better) A continuous filament fiber will not shed (that is creating fuzz balls) a staple yarn will. One easy way to tell if the carpet is a staple yarn, is to pet the carpet to see if it creates a fuzz ball. I hope I have given you enough information now, in order for you to make a well informed decision.
Thanks
The Floor Man
Let me begin by going over the fiber type from which carpet is made. Carpet is made from nylon, olefin (polypropylene) and polyester (essentially the same as olefin) and wool. As far as durability goes, wool is the most durable fiber; nylon would come next with polyester and olefin being the least durable of the fibers. As you can well imagine, the more durable the carpet, the more expensive it will be.
If you want to get your money out of your carpet I recommend buying the best padding. A denser pad will extend the life of your carpet. A dense pad acts like a shock absorber to your carpet fibers. There are also many different types of padding as well. The three main types of carpet padding are re-bond, rubber, (waffle padding) and prime urethane. I recommend using an 8lb re-bond pad. If you are looking to buy carpet for you home, then you have essentially 4-5 styles to choose from.
The four main types of residential carpets: plush pile (cut), frieze, berber (loop), and cable yarn. There is also a cut and loop pile. If it is commercial carpet you are looking for then your choices are going to be either loop or plush pile. A frieze carpet is shag like carpet with tightly twisted yarn, made in either polyester or nylon. The tighter the twist in the fiber and the more threads per square per square inch, the more durable the carpet will be.
The big difference between polyester and nylon is the wear factor. Once again nylon is more durable; however there is a trade off. Polyester tends to be more stain resistance. Plush pile carpet either comes in trackless (tracks less) or Saxony (which has the velvet look and feel) it also shows vacuum cleaner marks. Berber carpets are primarily made from olefin, although some Berbers do have a nylon and olefin blend. Berber carpets can be purchased with a pattern or without one. The number one rule of thumb for Berber carpet is: the bigger the loop, the quicker it will wear out. A cable yarn carpet is essentially the same as a frieze, except that it is a thicker gauge yarn. A cut and loop is both a cut and loop pile carpet. This particular type of carpet is usually made into patterned carpet.
Wool carpet is made mostly in the berber form. Karastan is the most popular brand of wool carpet and one of the most expensive. Another thing to consider is whether the carpet is a continuous filament fiber or a staple yarn (They like to call it spun yarn because it sounds better) A continuous filament fiber will not shed (that is creating fuzz balls) a staple yarn will. One easy way to tell if the carpet is a staple yarn, is to pet the carpet to see if it creates a fuzz ball. I hope I have given you enough information now, in order for you to make a well informed decision.
Thanks
The Floor Man
It's true that there are many kinds of carpets, so that's why some of us get confused on choosing the right ones for our house and/or office. Because of that, it's helpful if we make some research about different types of carpet. It is also important to know how to maintain their durability; that's why it's vital to have cleaning treatments for even just one carpet. Grand Rapids, where I live, is one of areas that's known for great carpet cleaning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this entry. For sure, it will be a good source of information to some users who are looking for different kinds of carpet.