Carpet Choices
by Frederick M Hueston
When selecting carpeting for your home you have many things to consider and many options to weigh. Carpets come in a vast array of colors and styles, textures and fibers and there are many different qualities of carpets to choose from.
The two most popular types of carpeting today are loop pile and cut pile. Loop pile has individual strands of yarn pulled through the carpet backing twice, creating a small loop. Cut pile has the loop cut at the top, leaving tufts of yarn that stand straight up. A cut pile carpet is generally more durable than a looped pile carpet. Cut pile carpets come in a variety of styles such as shag, textured, saxony and velvet or plush. Loop pile carpets would be a berber, cable or sisal. Loop pile carpets are a good choice for high traffic areas.
There will be the decision on the type of carpet fiber you choose. One of the factors here is cost. While there is nothing quite as luxurious as having wool carpeting in your home most cannot afford wool. If you are able to afford wool carpeting you will find that although it cost more at the time of installation, your wool carpet will prove itself to be far superior to other types of carpeting. No man made carpet fiber can come close to the durability, rich look or feel of wool. Your wool carpet can last upwards of thirty years.
You'll need to know a bit about other carpet fibers. Make sure you ask to see the manufacturers performance rating for each carpet.
Acrylic carpeting is very similar to wool (wool is considered the best carpeting available) and is sometimes called man-made wool. It resists moisture, fading, mildew, crushing and staining but is not recommended for high traffic areas in the home. Nylon carpeting is popular due to it's durability. It resists mildew, staining and soiling. Nylon carpet is recommended for all traffic areas. It is one of the most expensive of the synthetic fibers but cheaper than wool. Olefin is a very low cost easy care material that is often used in indoor/outdoor carpeting. Olefin is colorfast and strong and easy to clean. One drawback to olefin is that it can be easily crushed depending on the pile. Polyester is luxurious and durable however is not good for high traffic areas in the home.
The next consideration would be color and/or pattern of carpeting. Light carpeting colors create a spacious effect, making a room seem larger. Light color carpets of course show soil much more easily than dark. However, most stain and soil treatments put on carpeting today do help to prevent this problem. Dark or dull carpet colors will absorb light giving the room what some call a "cozy" feeling. Rugs with patterns will make a space seem smaller. Your color choice could be based on the paint color used on your walls. It is suggested that if you do this, the color of the carpet be darker than the color on the walls. Also, when choosing your carpet remember that the carpet installed on your floor will appear darker than the small sample you see in the store. Ask to take carpet samples home so that you can see how they actually appear in daylight and at night.
With a bit of knowledge you can find the carpet that's just right for your needs.
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