Carpeting
Carpet is a textile floor covering, consisting of a heavy woven fabric. Carpet retailers carry a wide selection of different carpet grades, colors, and textures; therefore it is quite important to consider all the options of this industry before purchasing and installing wall to wall carpeting.
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There is a variety of fabrics that carpets consist of; different methods of weaving; as well as the height of the pile and the number of tufts per square inch.
Types:
Technically there two basic types of carpeting: loop-pile and cut pile. Each of these types is also subdivided into different heights, density and texture variations.
Loop-pile: is a raised surface consisting of upright yarn loops. The machine passes the yarn through the carpet backing, then loops it over and returns through the backing creating a looped surface.
Level-loop:all the loops on the carpet are the same height, creating a smooth, thick surface. It is easy to clean and perfect for high traffic areas. Berber style uses the same weaving method but with an extra thick yarn.
Multilevel-loop: different heights of loops are randomly scattered though out the surface of the carpet, creating an uneven texture. It tends to easily trap and retain dirt and not as durable.
Cut-pile: a combination of both cut and uncut loops. In some areas the tops of the loops are trimmed off creating a fluffier look against the smooth surface.
Cut Pile: is created with the method and technology as loop-pile type, but all tops of loops are cut, giving the surface a plushier appearance. But because of the cut ends and open fibers, cut-pile carpets are more fragile and tend to get dirty faster. This type of carpeting has two styles to it: Saxony which consists of twisted fibers making it dense and firm and plush which has longer fibers giving the carpet a softer, luxurious sensation.
Types of Fiber:
There are two classes to carpeting: natural and synthetic. Wool is the most essential natural fiber used in carpets. It is luxurious and resilient and is naturally very soft and warm, but can easily get stained and abrade. Wool carpeting requires constant care to maintain its appearance. For today’s busy lifestyles and practicality reasons synthetic carpeting seems to be a more popular choice. Some of the standard fibers include: Nylon, polyester, and olefin. Nylon is the most popular one on the market due to its outstanding performance, durability, elasticity, and stain resistance qualities. Polyester is the least expensive fiber. It has a softer texture to it, and is also stain-resistant, but less resilient. Olefin carpeting is safe to use indoor and outdoor and is even suitable for commercial uses. It is made of polypropylene which resists to moisture, staining, fading and abrasion.
Cost:
Cost of an actual carpet varies from brand to brand but also depends on properties and attributes such as its fiber content, the weight of its pile, its density of tufts and ultimately its aspect and style. The most expensive fabric for carpeting is the wool, as its quality is much higher than the one of synthetics.
Installation:
The standard method of installing a carpet is first gluing the padding to the subfloor and then gluing the carpet on top of the padding. The under padding creates a cushiony feel when walked on, provides warmth, absorbs sounds and squeaks.