The carpet market is a huge market, with lots of types to select from. Here are 12 different types of carpet and what they will offer you and your home.
Carpets are textile floor covering which are made from blended or single synthetic and natural fibers attached to a backing consisting of an upper layer called “pile”. Polyamides (Nylons) and polypropylene are often used in large scale productions by 90% of commercial markets. Fibers are often used for appearance, durability, cost and ease of manufacture.
There are different kinds of carpets. The woven, needlefelt, knotted pile, tufted, flatweave, hooked rug, cut and loop pile, Saxony, textured Saxony, plush/velvet, frieze, and the level loop pile. All these types are either made from wool or a man made fiber such as polypropylene, and usually consist of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their structure.
When it comes to choosing a carpet style for your home, there is a fine line between practicality and decorative charm. As a homeowner, you want your living space to be inviting and pleasing to the eye, as well as easy to maintain. These factors must be considered when deciding on your flooring options. Carpet can offer style and charm without requiring continuous upkeep.
Everyone has different lifestyles and factors such as children or pets can influence your decision on what type of carpet would be best for your home. You have an enormous selection of colors, patterns and textures, as well as durability, quality and cost. The sole reason why you decide on a particular carpet should not be expense alone, but rather if the carpet can hold up to your lifestyle and maintain it’s beauty.
When figuring out your flooring budget, always look for the highest quality carpet that you can get for your money. Cheaper carpets are a lower quality and will probably require repair or replacement a few years down the road. Choosing a well-known brand will guard against wear and stains that cheaper carpets are prone to. Remember to include more carpet than necessary when calculating your budget. There can be difficult shapes or corners in a room that require extra carpet. If you have a tight budget restriction, look for carpet samples or remnants. It is possible to cover an entire large room with a high-quality carpet at a low cost.
Decide on your room preference. Would you like wall-to-wall carpeting so the entire room has floor coverage? Or would your family benefit more from area carpeting and rugs? Wall-to-wall coverage is more expensive, but can raise the value of your home.
Woven
Woven carpet is produced on a loom that is very similar to woven cloth, being cut pile. There are numerous different colored yarns being used and the whole process is capable of producing very intricate patterns from designs that are pre-determined. Generally, woven is the highest quality of carpet available.
Tufted
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.
Needlefelt
The needlefelt type of carpet is a bit more technologically advanced. They are produced by electrostatic attraction of individual fibers that form a unique carpet with extremely high durability. You can normally find needlefelt carpet in the contract market such as in hotels or other places where there is always going to be a lot of traffic.
Flatweave
The flatweave carpet is created by interlocking warp and weft threads. The types of oriental flatwoven carpet include soumak, plain weave, and tapestry weave. This type is not well known in the North American region, although it is very popular in the orient and Japan.
Hooked rug
This is a simple construction of rug that is handmade by pulling strips of cloth such as wool or cotton through the meshes of a very sturdy fabric. Now, this type of rug is generally known as a handicraft.
Knotted pile
With knotted pile carpets, the structural weft threads will alternate with a supplementary weft that will rise from the surface of the weave at a perpendicular angle.
Cut and loop piles
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
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
Textured carpet is the best selling 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/velvet
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
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
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.
Think about colors and styles. Take into account the wall treatments in each room that carpet will be laid. Try to match wall paint with the carpet color. If you’re trying to lighten a dark room, go with a lighter shade of carpet. If you’d like to give the room a warmer feeling, choose a carpet color that will project that. It is a good idea to take a color sample with you when carpet shopping to ensure you chooses the perfect color compliment for your home.