Advantages of Carpet

Carpet can offer more versatility, comfort, ease of maintenance and health benefits than other flooring options. It is the softest flooring option, easily maintained and it traps allergens and dust, keeping them out of the air, so that they can easily be removed by vacuuming. It also offers more affordable choices than most other flooring and there are styles to coordinate with every decor.

The Right Carpet

Choosing the right carpet is one of the most important decisions you can make for your home. After all, you'll be living with this investment for years to come – your family will work and play on your carpet every day. While every home has different needs, the goal is the same: your new carpet should wear gracefully as it enhances the comfort, beauty and style of your home.

So, your new carpet needs to be both beautiful and durable. With the many styles and colors of carpet available, beauty is easy to find. Durability will be different depending on the individual carpet. Some carpet mills offer a durability scale to help us compare their carpets. For those that don't offer this, here are some general ideas to help you to judge carpet for yourself.

1. Durability

This is the measure of how long your carpet will look and feel good. Ideally, carpet will retain its original texture and appearance for years to come. Durability depends on finding the right balance of three important factors defined below: twist, density and fiber.  Remember - no matter how well a carpet is made, if it is not vacuumed and cleaned regularly, it will fail to perform well. It is normally recommended that the traffic areas in your home be vacuumed daily, and the rest of the areas be vacuumed weekly. Also, most carpet mills recommend professional cleaning using the hot water extraction method (steam-cleaning) which should be done at least every two years, or more frequently depending on traffic.

• Twist
  The twist of the fiber is the way the fiber filaments are spun into yarn, and how the yarn is in turn twisted upon itself. Twist is usually locked into the fiber with a steam or heat-setting. The tighter the twist, the more the carpet will resist changes in appearance and texture.
•  
  Density
  Density describes the amount of pile in the carpet and how close the tufts are to one another. In general, the more dense the carpet the better the quality. Check density by pressing your fingers on the carpet and trying to reach the backing. It will be difficult to reach the backing of a very dense carpet.
• Fiber
  During carpet manufacturing, natural or synthetic fiber is converted to yarn and tufted, or locked into a backing to form the pile or surface that you walk on. There are four major types of carpet fiber - nylon, polypropylene (olefin), polyester, and wool; the most popular being nylon. (See below for more on fiber types.) 

* assuming nylon is treated with a stain resistant chemical.
** assuming treatment with a soil resistant chemical

2. Style

Definitely one of the most exciting aspects of carpet, style lends interesting textures and even subtle bands of color, which can set the mood of a room practically single-handedly. Advances in yarn and tufting technology, and printing equipment and techniques have made it possible to produce beautifully intricate woven patterns and textures in carpet at an affordable price.

Style actually refers to the manufacturing process responsible for a carpet's construction: how the yarn is woven, tufted and attached to the carpet backing. Berbers, Saxonies, Patterned and other styles are created by slight variations of this manufacturing process, producing a look unique to that style.

The right style goes beyond surface appearance – it plays an important role in durability. Today, carpet is manufactured in a variety of styles, from casual to formal and everything in between. While choosing a carpet style is a matter of personal preference, each has its own set of performance characteristics that should match the function of the room. Color, texture and pattern will all play a role in keeping a new carpet looking good.

Keep a few simple guidelines in mind:

• Generally, the more dense the carpet pile, the more durable the carpet and the better it will perform. Look for tufts that are tightly packed together. If you can easily part the pile and see its backing, the carpet is not very dense.
• The more texture the carpet has, the less wear it will show. Berber styles with their large, thick loops will maintain an even appearance under heavy foot traffic.
• Small, repeating patterns can help distract your eye from the appearance of wear.
• Smooth, plush Saxonies will create a luxurious, formal feeling, but will also show footprints and vacuum marks. These visual effects, known as shading, are built-in to the carpet's construction to highlight the lush texture.
• If you find shading objectionable, then Textured Saxonies are a better choice for your home, especially for areas that receive a fair amount of traffic.
• Loop pile carpets are generally thought of as a casual style, often seen in family rooms and play areas. While loop pile carpets once started out in office environments, they have now become popular in homes with children and pets because they are very forgiving of heavy traffic.
• There's no way around it: light colors are bound to show more soiling than medium and dark hues.
  

The major styles of carpet available today are shown below.

		Saxony Refined cut-pile surface Luxuriously smooth, soft finish Beautiful with traditional interiors Adds distinctive elegance to any room Ideal for living and dining rooms Shows subtle highlights and accents
		Friezé Cut-Pile   A new berber look with all the wonderful color and interest of traditional loop berbers The great plush "feel" of thick, cut pile carpet Beautifully crafted and colored yarns add personality to any room Very versatile decoratively, ideal for casual rooms, kids' rooms, etc. Subtle color flecks help hide soil that might appear between cleanings
		Cut/Loop Carved definition with cut-and-loop pile Accent colors spice up floor surfaces Multicolor effects hide soil and stains Looks great between vacuuming Choose from soft tonals to bolder color combinations
		Berber Loop-Pile A wool-like look and rugged loop surface Natural, hand-crafted appearance creates a warm, personal atmosphere Tight loop texture helps hide footprints and vacuum marks Subtle patterns fit a variety of room styles Ideal choice for contemporary to country to cottage furnishings
		Commercial Loop Versatile styles blend comfortably with any decor Durable long-wearing surface pile engineered for high traffic areas Intriguing color choices suitable for professional and practical installations Textured surfaces provide subtle highlights