As
we are all aware, purchasing new carpet for your home can
be quite a costly event. Matters can be made worse,when
you feel you've been misled by a fast talking salesman who
tries to impress you with terminology he hopes you don't
understand. Wouldn't you rather have purchased the carpet
that best fits your needs rather than the carpet that earned
the salesperson the biggest commission? Ultimate has compiled
a small amount of information to help assist you in your
decision, an informed choice is always the better choice.
We hope this helps you.
 Determine
Carpet Quality
Even though color may be the first consideration, quality
should be a major factor in choosing the right carpet for
your home. Quality plays a big role in the longevity of
your carpet. To determine quality, you should check the
carpet's pile or yarn for texture, depth and density.
Carpet
Pile
"Pile" is the yarn on the top surface of the carpet.
Long-wearing carpet has a closely packed, dense pile attached
firmly to the backing of the carpet. Therefore, carpets
which have a firmer, fuller feel have a greater longevity.
A good way to check the density of the carpet's pile, is
to bend back the corner of the carpet. The more you see
the carpets backing, the less durable your carpet will be
and the less fiber there is to walk on. Different types
of piles have different degrees of durability.
COMMON
CARPET PILE TYPES OR STYLES
Cut
- The pile loops are cut to expose the ends of the yarn.
There are four basic cut pile styles:
Frieze
- A frieze pile is very highly twisted with a firm,
lean feel and appearance. This is a good choice for
areas of high traffic - kids rooms, family rooms, halls,
foyers, and stairways. Other than possibly a loop pile,
a frieze pile does provide the best resistance to appearance
change.
Saxony/Saxony
Plush - The tufts are usually under one
inch high, and a better Saxony plush has tightly twisted
yarn tufts that don't flair open. In fact, you can easily
see the tufted ends. Saxony has a larger pile which
tends to give a less formal look to a room. Saxony Plush
is the same as Saxony but with a smaller yarn which
gives a room a very formal look.
Textured
Saxony
- The durability of a textured Saxony pile generally
falls between that of a Saxony and a Frieze. This pile
has a greater twist than a Saxony and therefore reduces
footprints and vacuum cleaner marks.
Velvet
Plush
- This is a carpet that shows shading from vacuuming.
Typically, there is little tuft definition and it has
an extremely smooth surface which looks to many people
like velvet. Individual tufts are tightly packed, creating
a very dense pile which is both rich and soft. It's
perfect in living rooms and bedrooms with moderate to
light traffic.
Loop
- Instead of cutting the loops, carpet mills leave the
loop uncut with no visible ends, providing very good resistance
to matting and crushing. There are several looped styles
of carpet available:
Level
Loop Pile
- The loops are of equal height, making the carpet very
durable and resistant to matting, often used in high
traffic areas. Berber is the most popular residential
carpet of this style. It is usually made of an untwisted
yarn which is low in profile and typically has a multicolored
appearance.
Multilevel
Loop Pile
- Usually has two to three different loop heights to
create pattern effects. It's looped structure provides
good durability.
Cut
and Loop
- Cut and loop carpets have both cut and loop piles
and usually have a sculptured pattern which is multicolored.
The
PAR Rating system
The
PAR Rating system is an industry scale endorsed by The Carpet
and Rug Institute and measures a carpet's likelihood to
change from its original appearance due to matting. It is
rated on a scale from 1-5, with a high number representing
the least change and therefore higher quality. Generally,
the denser a carpet is tufted, the higher its PAR will be.
Fiber
Fiber is a major component in determining a carpet's durability
There are 5 basic fibers that are used in carpet construction,
each with their strengths and weaknesses.
Nylon:
One of the most popular pile fibers used. It is wear-resistant,
resilient, withstands the weight and movement of furniture,
and provides brilliant color. Ability to resist soil
and stains. Generally good for all traffic areas.
Polyester:
Noted
for luxurious, soft "hand" when used in thick,
cut pile textures. Has excellent color clarity and retention.
Easily cleaned, and resistant to water soluble stains.
Polypropylene
(Olefin): Strong,
resists wear and permanent stains, and is easily cleaned.
Resists static electricity and is often used in both
indoor and outdoor installations because of its resistance
to moisture and mildew.
Acrylic: Offers
the appearance and feel of wool without the cost. Has
low static level and is moisture and mildew resistant.
Commonly used in velvet and level loop constructions.
Wool:
Noted for its luxury and performance, wool is soft,
has high bulk, and is available in many colors. Generally,
wool is somewhat more expensive than synthetic fibers.
And in some cases may aggravate allergies for some people.
OTHER
IMPORTANT FACTORS:
Luster
Carpet made from fiber which has a luster is shiny in
appearance, reflecting a rooms light. Carpet is produced
in a variety of luster's, ranging from bright to dull.
Carpet
Pad
A good carpet pad will add years to your carpet and is
key to your comfort under foot. The carpet pad not only
creates a softer walking surface, it also helps absorb
noise, prevents carpet from sliding and insulates cold
floors. Different materials are used to make carpet pad.
Foam rubber and Urethane are the most common - both are
durable, non allergenic and mildew resistant. Foam rubber
cushions are often available both in flat and waffle styles
It
is best to choose a pad based on the room's intended use..
The denser the pad, the better the carpet will perform.
A thin, super soft pad is less effective than a fairly
firm one. A firm, dense pad should be used in rooms with
heavy traffic, while a carpet pad with less density can
be used in rooms with lighter traffic.
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