CSI: Carpet Scene Investigation
If you’ve ever been in the market for carpeting, you know what a daunting job it can be. Besides color and style, there’s a whole carpet lexicon that only makes matters worse. By identifying and defining these individual terms, we might be able to get to the bottom of the conundrum of choosing the perfect carpeting.
Carpet Anatomy
There are three terms that describe the construction of a carpet’s surface. They are weight, density and twist.
Weight, also called face weight, is the number of ounces of fiber in a square yard of carpet. Generally speaking, the higher the face weight number, the better. This is not to be confused with Total Weight, which takes into consideration the fibers AND all the backings.
Density is defined by the amount of fiber per square inch of carpet. The more carpet yarn that’s packed together per square inch the better the performance of the carpet itself. Not only do carpets with high density wear well, they prevent soil and spills from leaching into the fibers themselves and into the carpet backing.
Twist refers to the number of twists made within a one inch length of carpet yarn. The more twists in the individual yarn lengths, the better the carpet will look over the long haul. It will crush less and hold its crisp look. Generally, the higher the twist level, the less dense the carpet has to be to achieve the same durability as a more dense carpet.
Cut, or sheared, carpeting is the best selling type of carpet. Basically, after the carpet yarn is attached to the backing, the tops of the yarn loops are sheared, creating a plushy look. Within this category are Saxonies and velvets–which show all footprints and vacuum cleaner lines– and Textured and Friezes, which are highly twisted and better disguise tracks and vacuum marks.
Loop carpeting is just as it sounds; the loops in the first step of production are left intact. Level loop is very durable, easy-to-clean carpet that is ideal for high-traffic areas. The lower loops in a multi-level variety, however, can hold dirt. Also within this group falls Berber, which is simply looped carpet with flecks in it. Berber is oftentimes made with thicker yarn than ordinary loop.
Cut and loop carpet consists of a combination of sheared and looped yarn. Also called patterned cuts, these carpets are gaining popularity.
Olefin or polypropylene is the cheapest kind of carpet available. It works best as a Berber. Olefin resists mildew and moisture and is easy to clean. On the down side, it tends to crush and it feels ‘crunchy’ which isn’t terribly comfortable on the tootsies.
Polyester generally costs more than olefin but less than nylon. It’s much softer to the touch than olefin, but I’ve heard contradictory things about its stain resistance and durability. The majority of salespeople I talked to think poorly of the polyester currently on the market; however, there are some manufacturers coming out with polyester carpeting equivalent in performance–and price–to nylon.
Nylon is the most popular fiber for carpets. According to carpet.org 90% of all residential carpets are nylon. Why? Nylon is durable so it’s great for high traffic areas. It’s static free, resists crushing, soiling and mildew. On the down side, it costs more than olefin and polyester.
Wool carpeting is the most luxurious choice in carpet construction. On the plus side, wool is strong and supposedly stain resistant, although I have a sister that would probably disagree with that. On the negative side, wool can hold static and moisture and it’s CRAZY expensive.
For more information on carpeting and carpeting terms, check out the excellent Carpet Guru or carpet.org.
‘Carpet Castoffs’ by Voxphoto via flickr.
(Article originally published on Curbly, August, 07.)
