How to Buy Carpet Carpet comes in every color, pattern and texture you can imagine - enough to suit every taste and budget. The following information may help you decide on the carpet that’s right for your home. Location and Use
Ask yourself, where will the carpet be used? A high-traffic area, or in a more remote location? Near an outside exit? In direct sunlight?
Rooms that are to be the center of activity in your home need the best carpet you can afford to buy. Many manufacturers put performance rating numbers on their product samples, with a 4 or 5 rating representing the best choice for heavy usage, and a 2 to 3 rating for less used areas. Color
Color is a personal choice, but there are certain rules of thumb that apply to most situations. Neutral shades tend to open a room, while bolder colors add excitement or make a room feel more intimate. Consider the atmosphere you want to create and start imagining! Can you pull in a color from the drapery or upholstery fabric? Do you have a favorite piece of china; a treasured heirloom, or a painting you love? Although neutral shades can unify various elements in a room, today’s neutrals are expanding to include more organic colors, like blues and deep greens. Texture and Pattern
Today, shoppers looking for vision and innovation in design, are finding new carpet patterns and textures, adding thousands of new “looks” to their choice options. Patterns and textures offer fashion appeal and distinctive styling, with the added benefit of hiding soil and vacuum marks. The following information will familiarize you with both the newer and more traditional textures available. Cut Pile | • | Plush – the traditional cut-pile, with a smooth level texture for a more formal look | | • | Saxony – a tighter yarn twist gives this level cut pile a less formal look – hiding footprints. | | • | Friezé- the most textured, highest twist cut pile has a ragged, almost curly appearance for a casual look that disguises foot and vacuum marks. |
Loops | • | Level Loop – yarn is in uncut loops, with all loops of the same height. | | • | Multi-level loop - offers two to three loop heights for a nubby, knotted look. Durable and casual in appearance. | | • | Cut and Loop pile – this combination of cut pile and level or multi-level loop pile offers a variety of surface textures, including sculptured effects. Many of today’s new geometric and natural carpet patterns are created using this construction method. |
Berber | • | Berber – a very popular carpet style, berbers are valued for their handmade, “natural look” Today’s Berber sisal look-alikes are constructed in level and multi-level loops, loop and cut piles; in a variety of patterns. Berber are often flecked with multiple colors, creating a versatile, yet often understated palette on the floor. |
Softness | • | New developments in both fiber and backing technologies are making today’s carpets softer than ever before, adding to the comfort carpet brings to any home. |
Cost | • | Plush – the traditional cut-pile, with a smooth level texture for a more formal lookThe wide range of products available makes it easy to choose a carpet to fit the requirements of your budget. In general, higher quality carpet will last longer than less expensive products, but remember, cost is based on multiple factors: fiber, construction, and design.
• And don’t forget about padding and installation! Ask your dealer to give you a total price which includes these costs. |
Fiber
There are five basic fiber types used in carpet construction today. Each fiber has its own characteristics for stain and soil resistance, color clarity, and wear.
Nylon - Represents two-thirds of the pile fibers used in the United States. Wear-resistant, resilient, and provides brilliant color. Good stain resistance. Suitable for all traffic areas. Solution-dyed nylon has color added during fiber production, making it more colorfast.
Olefin (polypropylene) – A strong fiber that resists wear and permanent stains, and is easily cleaned. Color added during fiber production for colorfastness. Resists static electricity and is often used in both indoor and outdoor installations because of its resistance to moisture and mildew. Many Berbers are made of olefin.
Polyester: Noted for luxurious, soft "hand" when used in thick, cut-pile textures. Has excellent color clarity and retention. Easily cleaned; resists water-soluble stains.
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, and often in bath and scatter rugs.
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.
Blends: A wool/nylon blend combines the superior look and comfort of wool with the durability of nylon. Acrylic/olefin and nylon/olefin are other popular blends, offering good characteristics of each fiber. Carpet Padding
The right pad extends the life of your new carpet, and gives added noise and thermal insulation to your home. Poor pad selection can cause carpet to wear sooner, and could lead to wrinkling or buckling, or even seams coming loose. In some instances, using pad that is outside manufacturers’ specifications can void the warranty on your carpet. For most residential carpet applications, choose pad that is no more than 1/2 ” thick.
For Berber or other low-pile styles, choose pad no more than 3/8” thick. Carpet cushion is made primarily from polyurethane foam, fiber, or rubber, in a variety of textures and thicknesses. Higher traffic areas generally require a firmer, denser cushion, while bedrooms and other less frequently used rooms will allow for thicker, softer cushion.
Some carpet is manufactured with the cushion already attached. With this type of carpet additional cushion is not necessary. | Quality Discount Carpets
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