Imagine you are going to move into your new house and hold a party in that house, but the floor of your house is so plain and boring. What a nightmare!
Of course, you don’t want that to happen.
But no fret, simply putting the right carpet on the floor can make a big change. That’s why, carpets can be one of the most important things in your home interior.
There are several reasons that make carpet as a great choice of the home interior such as:
- carpet’s cushioned surface is able to absorb sound and less noisy to walk on than hard surface flooring;
- carpet is considered affordable;
- carpet has a variety of colors;
- carpet will make your underfoot warm in cold seasons, and it is soft to touch;
- and the carpet is easy to be cleaned and maintained.
Besides, carpet also has varieties of types that will make you confused.
No worry! Here, the not-first to carpet world guide will help you to choose the carpet that probably fit your liking and needs.
Types of carpet are categorized both from the carpet construction and the carpet materials. Check both of the types of carpet below!
A. Type of Carpet Based on Carpet Construction
The most common of carpet construction is called tufting which defined as the tufting machine pierces the backing of carpet material with loops of yarn that form the carpet pile.
There are three main types of carpet construction that categorized by the way the carpet fibers are attached to the carpet backing material. These three main types are loop pile, cut pile, and the combination cut and loop pile.
1. Loop pile carpet
Known as uncut pile carpet, loop pile carpet is constructed of the fibers or yarns that looped and uncut on the carpet surface.
All the loops height can vary from all has the same height or even different from low, tightly constructed to a more luxurious high-level loop.
This type of carpet construction is famous for its durability to resist crushing and matting, and stain-resistant carpeting which is ideal for heavy traffic room such as living rooms or family rooms. However, loop carpet has a low profile and limited cushioning.
Loop pile carpet has two categories, which are:
Level loop, commonly called Berber, is the type of carpet with short loops that well suited in heavy traffic rooms. This type has the same size and height of yarn loops and tight loops with maximum fiber density that make it does not leave footprints.
Multi-level loop, known as high-low loop pile, has uneven height tops that can be used in a random or sequenced design in order to make a patterned texture to the carpet. This type also has extreme durability.
Read also: 5 Health Benefits of Regular Carpet Cleaning
2. Cut Pile Carpet
Cut pile carpet construction has the characteristic of some of the loops are cut and has the same height loops, upright pile. It is produced by cutting the tips of the yarn loops which give a more luxurious, formal look than loop pile carpet.
Moreover, this kind of carpet construction has several positive points than loop pile which are:
- It has a variety of sculptured patterns,
- It tends to be denser and softer. However, cut-pile carpet is less durable than loop pile carpet.
Within the cut-pile carpet family are:
Saxony carpet, one of the most popular types of carpet, is identified by the cut in all carpet pile loop that forms a the same 0,5-inch high pile. This type is popular by its smooth and luxurious look from densely packed fibers, yet there are concerned with footprints pattern and mark left by a vacuum cleaner.
Plush carpet pile, velvet or textured plush, can be mistaken as Saxony by its smooth texture and formal look, yet this type has a shorter pile height and slightly twisted in the yarn. This type has the same negative points such as left tracking from footprints and vacuum cleaner.
Textured cut pile is the opposite of plush and Saxony. This type has a rougher surface texture rather than the two first cut pile types. It is caused by the fibers of uneven lengths.
Frieze cut pile, known as shag carpet, indicated the tufts of yarn have been extreme or over twisting the tufts curl over which derived from its textured.
This luxurious and stylish look yet less formal carpet has excellent durability that displays less tracking footprints and vacuum cleaner compared to plush and Saxony carpets which are perfect for the family room.
However, frieze carpet is not that soft to the touch.
3. Combination of Cut Pile and Loop Pile
Last but not least, there is actually another type of carpet construction which is a combination of cut pile and loop pile called cut-loop carpet.
The combination of cut and loop fibers create sculptured and patterned effects such as squares, swirls, etc. This type is good for covering dirt and stains, yet it is less durable than loop pile carpets.
B. Types of Carpet based on the Materials
Now! Let’s talk about the types of carpet based on the materials.
So, carpet is basically made with a variety of synthetic and natural fibers, and there are the four most common fibers which are nylon, polyester, olefin, and wool.
Every fiber has their own characteristic and both their advantages and disadvantages. For example:
1. Nylon Fiber
Nylon fiberis the most popular and commonly used carpet material. It is because of its characteristics such as its warmth, softness to the touch, highly resilient, and its durability which is the great choice carpet for homes with pets and children, also perfect for heavy traffic areas such as hallways.
However, nylon is not good against stains. That is why some varieties should include a stain-resistant treatment.
The cost of nylon carpet is varied based on the longevity and the place where it will be placed.
For the low traffic room and expected to last 5 years, the typical nylon carpet price is 15 USD. Meanwhile the price for the heavy traffic room and expected to last 20 years is 45 USD.
2. Polyester (P.E.T)
Polyester fiber is famous for its luxurious look, durable fiber with softness, hold vibrant colors and styles. This kind of carpet is less expensive than nylon and wool carpet. It can also be made from recycled plastic bottles that make it eco-friendly.
However, Polyester carpet is less resistant than nylon carpet which is not a great choice for heavy traffic areas.
Don’t worry about that! This carpet has the ability that nylon is not that good which is more stain resistant even do not use extra stain-resistant treatment.
3. Olefin Fiber
Also known as polypropylene, is extremely resistant to stains than nylon and also moisture resistant. However, this type of carpet is less resilience and tougher than nylon which makes it not so comfortable to walk on.
That is why this kind of carpet is more suitable is perfect for basements and outdoors as it is resistant to moisture, mold, and mildew.
4. Wool Fiber
Wool fiber is considered as eco-friendly flooring and premium carpeting, has a natural beauty, luxurious, long-lasting material that is the softest carpet fiber you can get.
Indeed, this kind of fiber gives warmth and softness to the touch, yet it is easily stained and holds protein such as blood and urine.
For that reasons, wool fiber carpet is not suitable for a home with pets or children, or a room with heavy traffic areas. It will be different if it is high-grade wool that, of course, the cost is extremely expensive.
Those types of carpet fiber are the main factor in determining what level of stain resistant carpet that you need.
If you choose the fiber that is not natural stain resistant, you can ask manufacturers for assistance to apply post-production stain resistant treatments.
Remember, you have to consider how you live in each room. If you have children, pets, and put the carpet in heavy traffic rooms, then it is better to choose a carpet with stain resistant.
C. Select the Color of Carpet
That is all the types of carpets both based on the carpet construction and carpet fiber or material. Carpet is also available in a variety of colors.
Just imagine if your home floor as the fifth wall that links all the other elements in the room. Think of the walls, window treatments, and other interiors when selecting a color scheme.
If you are not sure to name the color that you want, just bring the sample of fabric and color when you visit the carpet shop and show it to them. Surely, the carpet color will make a difference look for your flooring.
Read also: 20 Types of Rug to Adorn Homes and Offices
D. The Quality of Carpet: Twist Level and Density Rating
As you already know about the types of carpet both based on the carpet construction and carpet fiber including the color of the carpet, there is the ultimate consideration that you have to keep in mind in selecting the carpet which is the quality of the carpet.
The quality of the carpet is determined by two main factors which are twist level and density of the carpet.
1. Twist Level
Twist relates to how tight the carpet yarn or fiber has been twisted. Meanwhile twist level tells you the number of twists in a one-inch strand of carpet.
The twist level is crucial for durability of the carpet. Hence, it can be said that the tighter and higher the fiber is twisted, the better the carpet will endure to crushing and matting.
If we go back to main types of carpet construction, it can be said that frieze carpet has the highest twist level with 7-9 twists per inch (TPI), whereas most cut pile carpet styles have between 3-6 twists per inch.
How come, you ask? Well, let’s say it in a braided hair analogy. If we twist the braid once or twice lightly, then it is going to be loose and fall apart. Yet if we tightly twisted the braid, it will hold together all-day long.
Lower twist also makes the carpet:
- easily unraveling,
- and makes it look old fast.
Indeed, the twist level is probably not as important as the density rating, but it still gives a major impact on how long the carpet will last.
The standard of a great twist level is 5 and more, so make sure you look for a carpet with that twist level. Hence, four or less than that twist level can bring to poor performance.
If you are going to buy frieze carpet, then you do not have to worry about the twist level number as it can be guaranteed a high twist level.
3. Density Rating
The last main factor of durability in carpet is density rating. Density rating refers to:
- the number of how tall the fibers are,
- and how tightly the fibers are packed together within the carpet.
Therefore, the closer the fibers are packed together, the denser the carpet will be and the durability is better too. Remember, density is different with weight. Hence, a higher density rating does not always mean a heavier carpet.
It can be said that density is the best specification in determining the durability of the carpet, and if you want a carpet with great durability then you should buy a carpet density of 2,200 or even greater for its fullest durability.
To know the density rating of the carpet, you can ask the carpet shopkeeper or, to make it easy, you can check it by pressing your fingers on the carpet material.
If you can feel or reach the carpet backing easily, then the carpet is not very dense. Well said, the less carpet backing that shows, the denser the carpet is.
That is the not-first guide to get to know types of carpet. The information above, which is about types of carpet, will help you, carpet shopper, to choose the best carpet with perfect stain-resistant and will last long.
However, the first thing that you have to remember that you have to choose the carpet that you like.
Choose the carpet style that matches your lifestyle. That, for sure, will be a good starting point for selecting the carpet. After that, match it to your budgeting.
The last, you consider the quality and the types of carpet which has been explained above and meeting your carpet criteria.
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