This site is best viewed using Mozilla Firefox browser.

Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering

2004-01-01 13:00:00

The ‘carpet forum’

: What should I look for in selecting a carpet?

Patrick Goebel Question: What should I look for in selecting a carpet?Answer: The decorative effect of your new carpet will be an important factor in your choice. In the showroom, you will be seeking certain colors and patterns that you think will best suit your particular room and your decor. However, there are also many factors of quality to be considered. By looking at and handling samples in the showroom, and discussing them with the salesperson, you will be better able to choose the product that will most closely meet all your requirements and your pocketbook. Question:  How will I know which carpet will be the best choice for my lifestyle and budget? Answer:  The best approach would be for you to familiarize yourself with some basics about carpet construction before you go shopping. The following guidelines might help:• Textured Plush is a cut pile with a textured surface that helps hide footprints and vacuum marks. Imagine your carpet still looking great between vacuuming!• Saxony is a cut pile which shows subtle highlights and accents, and has a luxuriously smooth, soft surface. Most often used to add a distinctive elegance to living and dining rooms.• Cut & Loop adds a carved definition by combining a cut pile with a loop pile. This helps to hide soil and stains. It also hides sweeper marks between vacuuming. The multiple colored design is offered in soft tones to bold colors.• Berber Loop-Pile has a natural, wool-like look which creates a warm, personal atmosphere with contemporary to country to cottage furnishings. It's tight loop texture helps to hide footprints and vacuum marks.• Cut Berber has the great plush feel of thick, cut pile carpet with subtle color flecks to help hide soil that might appear between cleanings. This also adds personality to any room! Question:  What are some tips on choosing a color? Answer:  As the two largest areas in a room, the carpet and walls control the color theme. In selecting colors, don't feel limited by the room as it is today. Aim for the right color scheme, starting off with the carpet. Paint or wallpaper is relatively inexpensive. Draperies can be easily changed, and re-upholstering or covers can change the entire feel of a room.  Color and texture affect the character of our rooms. Rooms that lack sunlight can be warmed and lightened with sunny yellow, apricot, or soft warm beige. Cool colors, such as blues and greens, soften or cool a room with lots of windows or a sunny exposure.  Light colors generally show fewer footprints, dark colors show less soil and stains. A dull yarn will show fewer footprints, while a shiny yarn will show more highlights and accents. To minimize maintenance, light colors are best restricted to areas of the house such as formal living rooms, dining rooms, and guest bedrooms. Multiple colors and patterns in carpets are extremely effective in minimizing the effects of everyday dirt and soil. Question:  Why is there such a big difference in price between the cheapest and most expensive carpets? Answer:  The price difference arises because of differences in quality, including such factors as: the fiber material of which the pile is made; the density of the pile; the length of the pile above the backing; the finished weight of the pile; the number of colors woven in, the nature of the pattern, and the degree of colorfastness; treatments applied to the fiber, to the backing or to the finished carpet to improve attributes such as fire resistance, staining resistance, and freedom from static electricity. As when buying any other product, you only get what you pay for. Question:  What are the most popular carpet fibers? Answer:  Nylon is the most frequently used carpet fiber; it is exceptionally durable, versatile, and is reasonably priced. You can find nylon in a myriad of colors, and in numerous styles and textures. Polyester has good colorfastness, and is resistant to water-soluble stains. Polypropylene, also known as olefin, resists fading and stains, and generates low levels of static electricity. Polypropylene is favorably priced and can be engineered for outdoor applications. Wool is the most expensive of the carpet fibers, it is a natural fiber with a scaly character that scatters light and reduces visible soil.The performance and quality of a carpet is directly related to the amount and quality of the fiber that goes into the pile. The better the fiber and the denser it is packed, the better the carpet will perform. Thin, less dense carpet will lose its surface appearance faster. It is best to buy the highest quality you can afford. Question:  Is there ever a sound case for buying the very cheapest carpets? Answer:  Clearly some people think so, but it's doubtful if one really gets good value for money. The initial investment is less. However, one will have to replace it much sooner. On the other hand, it must be admitted that some people consider they get good value by buying cheap carpets that have poor wearing quality and replacing them quite frequently.