 | Doug Brennon has been in the carpet/flooring industry for 20 years. He has been the corporate store manager for Derailed Commodity for the last 6 years. For more information please call 620-395-2141 or visit www.derailedcommodity.com. |
Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering
2011-07-01 08:19:00
What types of carpet are best?
Question: We are going to re-carpet our home sometime very soon when the best opportunity arises. Right now we are gathering information and wondering what are the best types of carpet? We have 4 bedrooms, 2 young boys and a baby daughter that factor in to the decision. We’d like something that is fairly easy to clean and will hold up for a reasonable amount of time.
Answer: It sounds like durability is high on your list of priorities! Many people, like yourself, need something beautiful that will hold up well in a high traffic situation. Fortunately, you have many options. We’ve touched briefly on this subject once before but your question is one asked by many, so lets revisit and get more in-depth.
First, it is important to understand that carpet durability depends on several factors, the most important are: fiber type, amount of twist on the yarn, pile weight and density. When choosing, consider all of these factors rather than one. A less durable fiber with a good twist and density will last longer than a more durable fiber that has poor twist and density. Additionally, the appropriate pad and good maintenance will always increase the life of any carpet, while poor pad quality can cause even the most durable carpet to wear down quickly.
Your basic choices include:
•Cut Pile Plush- Soft, smooth look
that does show footprints
•Textured Cu Pile- Twisted yarn
masks traffic patterns
•Loop Pile- Also called Berber,
loops of equal or varied height
forming uniform pattern that does
not show traffic patterns
•Frieze- Highly textured fibers
that show minimal traffic patterns
Each of these types comes in various levels of durability and may be made from different types of fibers. After factoring in all of the durability elements, other factors such as color, softness and luster may play a roll in your decision.
