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When you need to install some carpet, you ought to know what you’re getting into. There’s a lot more to choosing carpet than walking around a store and feeling the samples, so here’s what you need to know.
One thing you should consider when choosing a carpet is the pile–the visible surface of the carpet. How the piles are constructed, whether cut, loop or cut and loop; how long or short the piles are; and what materials are used can affect the way the carpet looks and feels.
In the next sections, we’ll talk about the different types of carpets namely the cut, loop, and cut and loop carpets, as well as the materials used in making carpets; how these affect the carpet properties; and ultimately, your choice of carpet.
What are the Different Types of Carpet?
One way to distinguish carpets is by the pile construction or how the fibres are woven into the carpet. As mentioned above, carpets can be cut, loop, or cut and loop.
You can tell the difference between cut and loop piles by asking this question: can you see the ends of the fibres? If yes, then that’s a cut pile carpet. Cut piles can be categorized further into twist and plush. If the fibres seem to weave back into the carpet instead of ending, that’s a loop pile. If you see both the weaves on a carpet, then it is cut and loop.
Here are some more specific details to help you identify each of these types of carpets.
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Twist Carpet
In carpets with a twist pile construction, the cut fibres are twisted so they lie in all different directions. Because of the random way the fibres lie, and the way they bounce back after being pressed down, you won’t notice a whole lot of difference from footprints or vacuum tracks. Carpets like these are soft to step on, and they are durable -
Plush Carpet
Like the twist pile, plush is also a type of cut pile. But the fibres in plush carpets are shorter and packed more densely so stand straight up, supported by the fibres around them. This type of carpet is softer than twist carpets and looks more luxurious. But the construction of the pile makes it prone to retain patterns made by footprints and vacuum lines. Plush carpets are also called “Saxony” carpets. -
Loop Carpet
Loop carpets come in many varieties: they can have very small loops, making a bead-like texture, or they can have longer loops that stretch some distance or prop themselves up, away from the bottom of the carpet. This variety means that there are many designs of loop carpets. These designs fall into three categories: level, multi-level, and cord. Level loops are woven tightly to the base, making a firm, level surface across the whole carpet. Multi-level loops have loops of differing heights, arranged in various patterns. Cord loops (also called sisal) are a mixture of the two: loops that are tightly woven but use different heights to make patterns. Loop carpets can also bounce back pretty quickly, hiding footprints and vacuum tracks. Since you can’t see where the fibres end, you get a smoother, cleaner look. They are great for busy areas in your home. -
Cut & Loop Carpet
The cut and loop construction of carpet creates unique designs by combining the cut style (like twist) with the loop style to create cool textures, like straight or wavy lines and other patterns. The cut sections are prone to beings squashed down by foot traffic. There are also level cut and loop carpets, which combine the cut and loop constructions without varying the pile height between them, so the carpet is the same height all the way across it instead of having mounds and valleys for your feet to traverse.
What Types of Materials are Used in Carpets?
Carpets are made out of many types of fabric materials, from wool to synthetic fibres. Here’s what you should know about the different types so that you can be on the lookout for the one that’s right for you.
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Wool
Carpets made from pure wool are height in softness, and the fibres are naturally elastic, making them durable, so they won’t get worn down from heavy traffic. Wool carpets hide dirt and have natural oils that help to repel oil-based stains, so if you pick up the mess quick enough, it’ll be easy to clean it up without any lasting effects. Wool carpets also regulate humidity by absorbing water from the air when it’s humid and releasing water into the air when it’s dry. This can be hard to moderate though, so look at it more like an added bonus than a solid reason for buying wool. Wool is the most expensive type of carpet to get, though if it’s vacuumed often and properly maintained, it should outlast other carpets by enough time to make the cost worth it. Don’t put this carpet in a place that gets floods or liquid spills, though, because it’s hard to dry them out, and mould and mildew could form, which will make you want to throw away and replace your expensive carpet -
Wool Blend
Wool blend carpets are made from 80% wool and 20% synthetic material. This gives the carpet pretty much all of the benefits of the natural wool carpet at a lower cost for you. This makes wool blend carpets a lot more popular than pure wool carpets. -
Polypropylene
These carpets are made from man-made thermoplastic. The plastic fibres resist most stains and don’t fade in the sun, and they’re water-resistant, too, so mould won’t build up in them if they get wet. If there’s a stubborn stain, you can usually clean it up pretty easily with bleach. It’s also typically pretty cheap. The downsides of this type of carpet material come from oil stains, heavy objects, and heat. Any oil-based stains on these carpets won’t come out easily, even with bleach. Heavy furniture that sits on it for too long will crush the fibres and leave an indent. And if you install it near a fireplace or other heat source, you’ll find that the heat damages it pretty quickly. -
Polyester
Carpets made from polyester are comfortable and affordable, but they don’t last very long. The average polyester carpet lasts for up to 15 years at most, and heavy wear and tear can bring it down to 10 years. Heavy traffic and dragging things across it will damage the fibres, crushing them and making them look worn down. The fibres of polyester carpets also tend to come untwisted, giving them an old and frayed look. -
Solution Dyed Nylon
Nylon is a high-quality synthetic fibre. While polypropylene and polyester break under the pressure of heavy furniture or foot traffic, nylon is elastic and bounces back. On top of that, it’s non-absorbent, so it doesn’t have the same problem with water that wool does. It’s also stain-resistant, making it a great choice for kids’ bedrooms. Solution-dyed nylon is best for areas that see a lot of direct sunlight because, unlike other ordinary nylon carpets, the dyes are locked into the fibres and resist fading. However, you won’t want to bleach-clean these carpets. Instead, they will have to be professionally cleaned. Nylon carpets are more expensive than polypropylene and polyester carpets, but like with wool, the benefits and durability may save you money in the long run if you treat the carpet right -
Triexta
Triexta carpet takes all the benefits of nylon, dials them up, and gives them to you at a much lower price. Triexta is a much newer type of carpeting compared to nylon, so it doesn’t have as much road-testing, but it’s been shown to be just as strong as nylon, meaning Triexta carpets should last as long as or longer than nylon carpets. Triexta is stain resistant, especially against water-based stains, so any water-based mess should be easy to clean up without leaving a mark on your floor, and you only have to use water to clean messes up rather than chemical spot-cleaners. Triexta is made from the same compounds as polyester, but as you can see, the two are very different. Nylon was already leagues ahead of polyester in terms of quality, and since Triexta is shaping up to be better than nylon, you can bet it’s much higher quality than other polyester carpets. This type of carpet is also softer than other plastic-based carpets, and manufacturers are finding sustainably-sourced means of creating it by using corn glucose rather than petroleum. The only thing Triexta lacks is history. It hasn’t been around long enough for us to know how long it will last. On the other hand, with its sustainability, low cost, and general quality, it might end up being worth getting, even if it only lasts a little longer than other polyester carpets.
What Type of Carpet Should I Buy?
Now that you are familiar with the properties of a particular carpet based on how they are made and the material used to make them, it will be easier to make a decision in selecting a carpet. Think about where you want your carpet installed and what your lifestyle is.
For example, if you have kids and/or pets, you want something that is durable and stain resistant.
Here are more of our tips.
Family rooms & dining rooms
No matter how careful you are, spills and messes will be inevitable especially if you have kids. So in areas where food and drink are consumed, choose a carpet with a high level of stain resistance and a low pile for easy cleaning. Both level loop and twist carpets are good options for these areas.Hallways and living rooms
You need a carpet that is extremely durable, easy to clean and resistant to crushing for the busy areas in your home. Wool or synthetic loop carpet would be a good option in these areas.Bedrooms
Comfort is the top priority in bedrooms. Plush carpets made with wool, wool-blend, or Triexta are great choices.
Basement & rumpus room
For naturally damp areas like the basement, carpets made with synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester are the best choice. Because they are breathable and don’t absorb moisture synthetic carpets are not prone to moulds.Know Your Underlay
Carpets and other types of flooring require the use of an underlay. This is a thin protective layer that sits between the flooring and the subfloor. It is primarily used to provide a smooth and flat surface for easy installation of the flooring.
An underlay also helps extend the life of a carpet by protecting it from moisture coming from the subfloor and absorbing the impact of foot traffic to help minimise wear and tear. It also provides thermal and noise insulation.
Carpet underlays are typically made of either foam polyurethane or rubber. Felted wool can also be used to make carpet underlays.
It is recommended that you use an underlay that has a good density and is at least 11 mm thick for most uses.
For carpet, you will usually want foam or rubber carpet padding for underlay. The options are rebond padding, frothed foam, memory foam, slab rubber, waffle rubber, and standard urethane foam. Like the different types of carpet, each offers a different level of comfort and durability.
How to Decide What is the Best Quality Carpet
Wool carpet is generally considered to be more high-end than its synthetic counterparts. It is quite resilient and can retain its original appearance for a long time. Because of the natural waxy coating on the surface of the fibre, wool carpets can resist spills, although it is not as stain-resistant as other synthetic fibres. If maintained properly, it can last for at least 20 years.
On the other hand, the latest technologies have made it possible to make synthetic carpets that are extremely durable, soft, and have great properties like stain resistance, fade resistance, odour control and more. This, and the relatively lower price point make them a tough competitor to wool.
While wool has stood the test of time and is deemed by many as the best quality carpet, synthetic carpets are quite durable, offer great features, and can provide great value for your money. In the end, the best carpet for you is the one that meets your requirement. Visit your local Carpet One store across Australia for advice on choosing the best quality carpet.
What Type of Carpet is Best for Absorbing Sound?
If you’re looking for carpet to help out the acoustics in a room, you’re going to want to go with one that’s got a longer pile, specifically a cut pile made from wool or jute.
When looking for soundproofing, the surface area is your best friend. Sound is caused by waves moving through the air, and it bounces off of hard, flat surfaces without a problem. On the other hand, when sound hits a curly mass of long-cut carpet, it’ll get trapped, bouncing around between the fibres until it runs out of energy and dies away.
Wool, jute, and other fluffy materials are ideal because they have more fibres than other materials do, which increases the surface area, even more, allowing the carpet to absorb even more sound.
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