A Guide to choosing the right carpet
Selecting a carpet can be a tedious task, with a wide range of styles available in the market today. Piles, materials, colours and quality the selection is endless! Thus, it’s important to pick the right one as different carpet types are created to suit different areas. So what to consider in order to choose the right carpet?
a) Foot Traffic
b) Colour and Pattern of the Carpet
c) Carpet Fibre
d) Carpet Style
e) Cleaning and Maintenance
f) Carpet Backing
Foot Traffic
The intensity of foot and rolling traffic in any commercial space affects how quickly carpet wears out. Put simply, carpet fibers get crushed, bent or otherwise distorted when compressed by constant foot traffic, so commercial environments will require a more durable carpet than quieter areas that experience less foot traffic – such as small, private offices.
Wear rating classification systems, such as TARR, provide an objective measure of a carpet’s resilience to fiber and appearance degradation caused by frequent use, and give an indication of how durable your chosen carpet will be.
Color and Pattern
The design of any commercial carpet has an important role to play in terms of carpet longevity. Darker, highly patterned carpets are much better at disguising dirt and staining, compared to plain, light colored carpet. This denotes it will maintain its appearance for longer, rather than highlighting stains and dirt, without the need for frequent replacement.
Carpet Fibres
How a carpet feels and lasts depends on the fibre it is made from. Here are some widely available choices:
How a carpet feels and lasts depends on the fibre it is made from. Here are some widely available choices:
- Wool – it is durable, easy to clean and good for living rooms. It is more expensive than
man-made fibres, but wool blended with synthetic fibre is a cheaper option. A popular blend
is 80% wool and 20% synthetic. - Nylon – it is strong and long lasting. It is easy to clean, so is good for high foot traffic areas and for families with children and pet
- Polyester – it is soft to the touch, stain resistant and wears well. It isn’t, however, as durable as nylon and is better in low traffic areas like bedrooms or in homes without children or pet
- Polypropylene- it is inexpensive, strong and conceals dirt, so is often chosen for busy areas such as play areas and is popular for rental properties. While it has good colour fastness,
Cut & Loop
Carpet Style
The two most popular carpet styles are the Loop Pile Carpet and the Cut Pile Carpet. By choosing either of the two, you can significantly narrow your options making it slightly easier to choose the right carpet for your floor.
Cut pile is a style of carpet that is sheared, exposing the ends of the carpet fiber. Cut piles come in different lengths and thickness. It is the most popular style of carpet today and tends to be softer underfoot and to touch than a loop pile carpet. When selecting a cut pile carpet, the most important thing to look at is the twist. Cut pile carpet contains a twist which helps it stand up and resist matting and crushing. The tighter the twist, the more durable the cut pile carpet. The heavier twist also helps create texture which in turn helps hide wear and tear and dirt. Cut pile carpet comes in a diverse range of colors and can be multi colored as well.
Loop pile carpets are not sheared like cut pile carpets. They are left as loops and constructed in different weights and thicknesses. Loop piles are a great option for both residential and commercial use. The loop pile allows manufacturers to create numerous patterns and textures. In a loop pile carpet, the tighter the loops, the more resistant to matting and crushing it will be. Loops that are twisted help the overall durability tremendously.
Cleaning & Maintenance
The efficiency of your cleaning and maintenance program also impacts commercial carpet longevity. A well-maintained carpet can last over 15 years – it’s more likely to go out of style than wear out – but only if it’s well looked after.
Carpet Backing
A carpet without underlay rarely lasts for very long. Heavy foot traffic grinds the carpet into the solid flooring, unstitching the fabric and causing damage, leaving the carpet threadbare, faded and lifeless. Underlay protects even budget carpets from wear and tear, saving you money in the long term by reducing costs both on carpet choice and by preserving it, providing better value for money.
The Floorists are experts in all of these areas and greatly appreciate being engaged at an early stage of a projects so as to assist clients in making the right style, finish and design choices.
If you need advice on choosing the right type of carpet for a particular space or room, contact our team at The Floorist and we will be happy to help you.
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