Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Carpeting Basics 101 From Texas Best Flooring Company


Type Of Carpeting Materials

Carpet fiber is typically made from one of four fibers: nylon, olefin aka polypropylene, polyester, and wool.

Carpeting Parts

Carpeting has two layers face pile and backing.  The face pile or (yarn fibers) is the part of the carpet that we walk on and see.  Though the face pile is very important so is the backing yet no one ever seems to consider it when most people shop for new carpeting.

Carpet face pile comes in two different types; cut and or loop.  In a cut pile carpet individual yarns stand up straight from the backing.  This is a common type of carpet as it is less expensive to produce a carpet this way. In a loop pile carpet the yarn comes out of the backing, loops over, and they returns to the backing.  Loop pile carpets will last longer than a cut pile carpet.  Cut and loop carpets combine both pile types to add surface texture and often are used to blend multiple yarn colors.

Weight and Wear Of Carpeting

The heavier the carpet the better the carpet is at handling wear. When buying a carpet you should consider the carpet’s density, pile height, and fiber type that the carpet is made out of.  Carpets are sold according to weight and sometimes one style of carpet is offered in three different weights in the same color.  This is so people that are on a budget can buy a heavier weight and put it in the main traffic areas and the lower weight carpet can be used for the less used bedrooms. Most builders grade carpet is 26 ounces which is the minimum weight required for someone to get a FHA (Federal Housing Authority) loan.

Carpeting companies and most floor salesman don’t know carpeting weight can be mixed so they force customers into an all or nothing position when a customer is buying carpet.  35 ounce carpet in four bedrooms would drastically reduce the price of a carpeting project if a customer wanted 65 ounce carpet but could only afford to do it in the main areas everyone sees.    So before you buy carpeting check to see what weights are available for the style and color you like.  It’s pointless to put really nice plush carpet in a child’s room just because you want it to match with the rest of the house.  Give the children the lesser weight carpet let them destroy it and put the plush carpet in your master bedroom and living room; thus everything matches, you get the plush carpet in your room, and you save money.

Humidity

Carpet will absorb water and is prone to mildew.  So don’t ever put it in a bathroom or area close to water.  This is not healthy! In fact it becomes a nasty situation over time.

Carpeting Styles

Carpet comes in many different styles.  The main styles used for residential carpeting are Tufted, Cut and Loop Piles, Saxony, Textured Saxony, Plush, Frieze, and Level Loop Pile.

Tufted Carpeting

This type of carpet is produced on a tufting machine by using either a single colored or sometimes a non-colored yarn. If non colored is being used, then the carpet will be dyed or printed with a design as a separate process. Carpets that are tufted can either be cut pile, loop pile, or a combination of both. Machines can produce a lot more meters of carpet than weaving, and they are usually at the lower end of the market.

Cut and Loop Pile Carpeting

The cut and loop pile combines both looped and cut fibers. They provide a variety of surface textures for medium durability. Cut and loop carpets are available in either solid or different colors. The several different layers in this carpet can hide dirt and footprints in formal and informal areas.

Saxony Carpeting

Saxony consists of tightly twisted cut piles that are heat set straight. They consist of two or more fibers that have been twisted together in a yarn, and they provide a very soft texture for informal as well as formal areas. They will show each and every footprint and even marks from vacuum cleaners.

Textured Saxony Carpeting

Textured carpet is the bestselling and it works well in informal areas due to the very soft feel. They are tightly twisted and texture headset for medium durability. They also offer a multi colored look that will hide tracks and footprints.

Plush Carpeting

Both plush and velvet are lightly twisted and offer a uniform color. They are very soft and offer more level than textures. This type of carpet is ideal for formal areas due to it's luxurious appearance.

Frieze Carpeting

Frieze is a highly twisted cut pile type of carpet that is suited for high traffic areas. It has short fibers that will tend to curl in different directions at the surface to hide footprints and vacuum marks.

Level Loop Pile Carpeting

The level loop pile is constructed by weaving even loops of yarn into carpet backing at both ends. This type of carpet is durable as well as track resistant, due to the strong loops. Higher loops in the carpet will create a more luxurious look. They are also great because they will prevent dirt from filtering on into the carpet.
At Texas Best Flooring Company our number one selling carpet is Frieze carpeting that is a blend of two colors usually in earth tones.

Carpet Grain

Carpet has a grain that makes its fibers lean in one direction. If you run your hand over carpet in one direction the fibers will lay down.  If you run it back the fibers will stand up.  If you cut a piece of carpet in half and turn it 180% and then put it up against the other piece it looks like you have two different types of carpet.  That’s why when you install carpet you have to make sure the smaller pieces you are seaming together are consistent with the grain of the carpet you are attaching it too.  If you don’t seam a carpet with this in mind you run the risk of seeing a huge noticeable seam running the length of your room.

Carpet Names and Collections

Flooring companies and carpeting manufactures make up the names and collections of their carpet so that one, a customer can differentiate between the many different ones they offer and two, to confuse the customer so they cannot shop around for a better price on that carpet.  Some competing carpeting brands/distributors make their carpet in the same carpet mill.  Or many flooring companies will have their own carpet made directly from the mill at the same mill as 100 other flooring companies are using. So the carpet is the same quality and in most cases the same thing.  However, flooring companies try to get customers to fall in love with one carpet and if the carpet name is made up and no one else is using that name then the customers feels that that flooring company is the only one who offers that carpet.  This is not true! Forget the name.  When comparing carpet prices shop by color, weight of pile, style, type cut or loop, and backing used.  This is how you should compare pricing.  Don’t fall for the flooring companies made up naming system.  
 
These are the seven basic carpeting industry features one needs to know and be aware of when buying carpet.  For carpet installation and padding see some of our other Texas Best Flooring Company blogs at Texasbestflooringcompany.com

Thank You,

David Hill
Owner/ President
Texas Best Flooring Company, Inc.