Carpet types, what to look for and how to buy it

New floor covering is a popular home improvement any time of the year, but becomes especially prevalent just prior to the holiday season. Americans from coast to coast rally to replace tattered goods with new material in anticipation of the throngs of visitors sure call.

While more and more people are considering hardwood as the flooring of choice at various locations throughout the home, carpet remains the all-time favorite.

Warm and comfortable underfoot, available in a wide range of colors, patterns and textures, can be found at carpet stores. A fitted carpet can do more to enhance and unify a decorative scheme than almost any other type of floor; and modern fibers will stand a high degree of wear.

Carpet not only looks pretty, it works hard for you, too. It absorbs sound. So it provides an attractive way to cut down on noise. Its natural insulating qualities can also reduce heating and air conditioning costs. And carpet has built-in features to help prevent slips. Although such thick carpets require special tools from Tool hire from Best at Hire, for their cleaning purpose, they still add a great touch to the decor. It can also provide a cushioning layer of comfort underfoot. Best of all today’s “miracle fibers” are designed to resist stains, so cleanup can be quick and easy in most cases. For the carpet stains that are difficult to remove, a professional carpet cleaning service may be required.

Not all carpet is created equal. The price and performance of a carpet is more likely to relate to the type and amount of fiber used and to the quality of construction, rather than the method of manufacture. Carpet density directly relates to the amount of yarn used and that’s the reason why for carpet cleaning, professionals like carpet cleaning virginia beach are hired to treat the carpet accordingly in order not to lose its richness and quality. Here’s a simple density test that you can make when carpet shopping. Bend the carpet and note how close the individual tufts are to each other and how much of the backing is exposed. Press down with one finger and see how easy it is to penetrate the backing. The stronger the backing, the less backing exposed, the better the carpet.

Another important factor in carpet construction is the “twist”. We like to call it the “Chubby Checker” rule. The twist is the winding of the yarn around itself. The cut ends should be neat and well defined and not blossom at the ends. In human hair terms this can be compared to split ends. The twist is set by heat or steam so the yarns can maintain their original look.

Tufted carpet is made by a process in which hundreds of tufts (pieces of yarn) are embedded into a backing material. Loop pile, cut pile velvets and plushes , saxonies and cut an loop pile are the most common types of carpet construction and texture.

The yarn in a loop pile forms a loop whit both ends anchored into the carpet back. Loops are of equal height and uncut, creating a smooth level surface; or uneven, creating a textured surface which can be maintained with the help of carpet cleaning tulsa. Berber, one of the most popular carpets sold today, is one example of loop pile.

With cut pile velvets and plushes the top of the yarn is neatly cut, leaving two individual tufts. This creates a luxurious level surface.

Saxonies use yarns of two or more ply twisted together and heat-set to lock in “twist” so each tuft is visible in the surface.

Cut and loop pile is a combination of cut and looped yarns that creates a variety of textures, including sculptured effects.

Roughly ninety-seven percent of all carpet is produced using synthetic fibers, which are designed to feature style, easy maintenance, and outstanding value. Nylon, Olefin, Polyester, Acrylic and wool are the five basic types of carpet pile fibers.

Nylon is by far the most widely used, representing two-thirds of all pile fibers in the United States. Wear resistant and resilient, it has the ability to conceal and resist soils and stains. It is generally good for all traffic areas.

Olefin (polypropylene) is the fiber that most Berbers are made of. Olefin is strong, resists wear and permanent stains, and is easily cleaned. Due to its resistance static electricity, moisture and mildew it’s an excellent choice for sports surfaces and patios and game rooms.

Noted for its luxurious, soft, cut pile textures, polyester has excellent color clarity and retention. It is easily cleaned and resistant to water-soluble stains.

Wool is best known 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 is not recommended in areas where it can be subject to spills by the little ones.

Needless to say, the overall appearance and lasting quality of an installed carpet has a great deal to do with the cushion or “pad” below. A firm and resilient carpet cushion is necessary to form a good foundation for your carpet, increasing its comfort and extending its life, by absorbing the impact of foot traffic. Cushion also adds insulation and reduces noise. There are a variety of pad materials and thickness. Check with your flooring professional as to the appropriate cushion for your carpet choice.

Two of the most frequently asked questions that consumers have when purchasing carpet are, “How much do I need?” and “What will it cost?”. Carpet is sold by the square yard (one square yard is equal to nine square feet). To determine the approximate quantity of carpet you will need, multiply the length of the room by its width (in feet), and divide that figure by nine to obtain the square yardage. Add a safety factor of ten percent to account for room irregularities. For unusually shaped rooms and stairs it is best to have your retailer or installer make final measurements to ensure that you purchase the correct amount. They will account for rooms with widths greater than twelve feet (twelve feet is standard), include material required for hallways and closets, pattern matches and seam placement.

Buy the best carpet you can afford for the heavy traffic areas. A medium grade will provide good service in rooms with less traffic.

For more home improvement tips and information search our website or call our listener line any time at 1-800-737-2474! All you need to do is leave your name, telephone number and your question.

 

 

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