CARPETS
Research your options before investing to get the most out of your flooring.
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Wall-to-wall carpet is a popular flooring choice and can completely change the feel of a house. Not only is carpet comforting to walk on and changing the literal feel of the room, but it also has a huge impact on the look, sound, and functionality of a space.
With so many factors to consider, including pile type, material, padding, colour, style, and warranties, it is important to do thorough research in order to make the right choice.
There are many types of carpet fibres, but the most common are nylon, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, and wool. Carpets are made by looping the fibre yarns through the backing material in a manner similar to how a button is sewn onto a shirt. These loops of fibre can then be left either intact or cut at various angles and lengths. How the fibre loops are treated is known as the carpet pile.
Two characteristics of carpets are primary considerations when choosing a carpet: the type of natural or synthetic fibre used in the construction, and the pile—how the loops of fibre are attached to the carpet backing. These characteristics determine the comfort of the carpet, how it feels underfoot, and its wear characteristics.
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Here is the common carpet fibre rend pile options to consider.
Nylon Carpets
Nylon is very soft, durable, and resistant to stains and abrasion. It is the most popular of carpet fibres by a large measure—by some estimates, about two-thirds of all synthetic carpets are made of nylon.
It has good resistance to wear, mould, mildew, and rot, and it is easy to dye and holds its colour well. It is more affordable than wool but more expensive than other synthetics. These carpets, if cared for, can last 12 to 15 years, making it the most durable of the synthetic fibres.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is another popular carpet fibre, also known as Olefin, this is mainly a commercial application and in growing numbers of residential settings. These fibres are similar to natural wool and are often used as a synthetic wool substitute.
The fibre is highly stain-resistant but is prone to soiling and holding onto oils which in turn, collect dirt. It is, however, relatively easy to clean, even bleach can be used in some cases. Polypropylene is not as resilient as nylon. The cost of polypropylene is slightly less than most nylon carpets, but cost more than polyester and acrylic.
Polyester
Polyester is a winner for its ability to hold vibrant, fade-resistant colours. Because it is man-made, the fibre is also more hypoallergenic than some others.
One type of polyester carpet, known as polyester/PET, is made from recycled plastic bottles, making it eco-friendly. Its main drawback is that polyester is prone to flattening under any weight, footmarks, chairs, tables, etc. so this is making it a bad choice for high-traffic areas.
It can also be prone to oil stains, which are very hard to remove from polyester fibre.
Acrylic
Sometimes marketed as "synthetic wool" because it offers the feel and appearance of wool at a fraction of the price, acrylic has good resistance to static electricity, moisture, mildew, fading, and staining.
Not as durable as a Nylon material, and it doesn't hold up well in high-traffic areas. It is sometimes blended with wool. Acrylics are not friendly to all cleaning products.
Wool
Wool, a natural, luxurious, long-lasting material, is the softest carpet fibre you can find. Unfortunately, low-grade wool is more susceptible to staining, while high-grade wool is extremely expensive. Some manufacturers combine wool with synthetic fibres to create a carpet with the benefits of both. Wool/acrylic blends are especially common.
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Pure wool carpet is made with no chemicals or additives, which makes it an excellent choice for those with allergies or sensitivities to chemicals. But as a natural material, wool can be prone to damage from mould and mildew, which feed on organic substances.
Wool is therefore not a good choice for areas where high humidity and moisture areas are an issue.
LOOP PILE
Different Loop Pile Carpets
Level loop
Where the fibre loops are all the same length. Level loop pile carpet has all of the loops at a uniform length. It has a distinct texture with low and tight loops. A great choice for high traffic spots and does not show footprints
Also known as "uncut pile" or "Berber pile" named for a particular type of knotted pile, loop pile leaves the entire yarn loop intact on the surface of the piece.
These carpets tend to be highly durable, easy to clean, and resistant to stains, making them perfect for high-traffic commercial applications or high-traffic family areas, such as recreation rooms. Loop pile carpets also don't show indentations caused by footprints and vacuum marks.
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Loop pile is durable and easy to clean, while cut pile is softer and more luxurious. Berber is a good choice for high-traffic areas, as it is resistant to wear and tear.
Cut Pile
This is a style of carpet where the exposed fibres are sheared off. This typically produces soft, inviting, easy-to-clean carpets. Different styles can be created by changing the angle of the shearing that slices the loop, or by using different treatments on the thread before and after it is inserted into the backing. Cut pile comes in different lengths and thicknesses, and these carpets work well when an entire house is carpeted, as it blends well from room to room.
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They are the most popular styles of carpet today and tend to be softer underfoot and to touch than loop pile carpets. Cut pile carpets work well for a whole house type carpet.
Although much more popular than loop-pile carpet, cut-pile carpets are not as durable and will need to be replaced more often.
Uncut Loop Pile
Less soft than cut-pile fibres, and not recommended for pets or small children.
Cut-and-loop construction
Where some fibres are cut and others are looped.
Cut Pile
Loop Pile
Sisal Loop Pile
This is where the loops of different colours, and sometimes different heights, are arranged in rows to produce a textured, patterned surface.
Saxony Cut
Saxony carpet is typically woven very densely, and it has a very soft, plush feel. The primary disadvantage of a saxony carpet is that it tends to show marks such as footprints and vacuum marks. Saxonies are associated with quality and luxury, and as result, tend to cost more compared to solid textured or looped carpets.
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The relatively short fibres stand straight up and down to create a lush, fuzzy surface. It is susceptible to wear-and-tear, as well as staining, making Saxony carpets a floor treatment best suited for use in low-traffic areas, such as formal living rooms.
They are also somewhat more expensive than traditional cut-pile carpets
Plush Pile
Sometimes called velvet-cut pile, this style is a variation of cut pile in which the fibres are even shorter than with a Saxony cut and very densely packed, which creates a rich and luxurious carpet surface.
Unfortunately, this carpet style is fairly temperamental. Prone to wearing down, scuffing, and showing footprints, velvet carpet pile should only be used in luxurious, low-traffic settings.
Textured Cut
The term textured-cut pile refers to a form of cut-pile carpet in which the fibres are of uneven lengths. They are also twisted into spiral strands using a special steam treatment that curls the individual strands so that they remain kinked.
This style is also called "trackless" because it doesn't show footprints and other marks on its surface as do other cut piles, such as Saxony. The spiral strands do not reflect light as much as straight strands, so it's not as noticeable when spirals are crushed down.
This pile is suitable for mid- to high-level traffic areas.
Frieze-Cut Pile
The term frieze-cut pile refers to a carpet in which relatively long cut fibres are twisted together and kinked, causing them to curl erratically across the surface of the carpet.
This highly durable style tends to hide dirt and wear and is suitable for high-traffic and commercial settings.
Sculpted Pile
A sculptured carpet has both looped and cut-pile fibres, which creates height and texture variations in the surface of the carpet.
These carpets are sometimes known as cut-and-loop or patterned carpets. The different fibre cuts are sometimes arranged in geometric patterns, giving the carpet a three-dimensional texture.
The different fibre cuts can all be the same length (level cut-and-loop), or they can be at different heights (textured cut-and-loop).
Patterned loops
Where the loops are different heights. There are so many different variations and patterns to choose from.
A great Commercial Carpet range.
