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Flooring: Budget and needs should guide

carpet selection

Before purchasing carpet, you should answer a few questions: How is the room going to be used? Will it see heavy or light traffic? Will the room be the center of activity for family and entertaining? Is there direct access from outside? Will the carpet receive direct sunlight?

Where there is heavy traffic, choose the best carpet you can afford. Look for performance rating guidelines with various brands. This rating system offers guidance on choosing the carpet that will perform best for various traffic needs. Most guidelines will be based on a five-point scale, with a 4 or 5 rating best for high-traffic areas, such as hallways, stairways and family rooms. The higher the rating, the better the performance.

Because it covers so much living space, carpet is the foundation of your room’s décor. It can be a neutral color, blending in with fabrics and other surfaces, or it can be a vibrant focal point of the room, making a statement that reflects your style.

The selection of carpet is a personal choice. Carpet comes in almost every color, pattern and texture you can imagine. You will want to select a color that unites your decorative elements and creates the atmosphere you desire. Look for a common color in your furniture and draperies.

Your budget and your needs are two key elements in selecting carpet and rugs. Ask yourself how long you expect to keep your carpet before replacing it. A better grade of carpet will give you greater length of service.

The cost of carpet is based on many factors, including fiber, construction, quality and design. The total project will include the cost of cushion and installation. Ask your retailer to give you a complete cost estimate – one that includes cushion, installation, moving of furniture and hauling off old flooring materials. A high-quality, professional installation can extend the life of your investment.

Fiber facts

Fiber is carpet’s basic ingredient. The type of fiber used and the way the carpet is constructed determine how well the carpet will stand up to spills, pets and daily traffic. About 97 percent of all carpet is produced using synthetic fibers. There are five basic types of carpet pile fibers:

Nylon: The most popular, nylon represents two-thirds of the pile fibers used in this country. Wear-resistant and resilient, nylon withstands the weight and movement of furniture and offers brilliant color. It has the ability to conceal and resist soils and stains. Generally good for all traffic areas. Solution-dyed nylon is colorfast because color is added in the fiber production.

Olefin (polypropylene): This synthetic fiber is strong, resisting wear and permanent stains. It is easily cleaned and notably colorfast because color is added during fiber production. It resists static electricity and is often used in both indoor and outdoor installations because of its resistance to moisture and mildew. Olefin is used in synthetic turf for sports surfaces and for patios and game rooms. Many Berbers are made of olefin.

Polyester: This synthetic fiber is noted for its luxurious, soft “hand” when used in thick, cut-pile textures. It has excellent color, clarity and retention. It is easily cleaned and resistant to water soluble stains.

Acrylic: This synthetic offers the appearance and feel of wool without the cost. It has low static level and is moisture and mildew-resistant. Commonly used in velvet and level-loop constructions, acrylic is often found in bath and scatter rugs.

Wool: Noted for its luxury and performance, wool is soft, has high bulk and is available in many colors. It is generally more expensive than synthetic fibers.

Blends: A wool/nylon blend combines the superior look and comfort of wool with the durability of nylon. Acrylic/olefin and nylon/olefin are other popular blends.

PILE PRIMER

Today’s carpet offers much more than a conventional loop pile. New technology can produce multilevel loop and cut/loop patterns. The texture, colors and pattern of carpet can be made to complement or contrast with patterns of your furniture and window treatments.

Here are the various types of carpet pile:

Cut pile: loops are cut, leaving individual yarn tufts. Cut pile includes plush/velvet, Saxony (more twist, less formal) and frieze (curly).

Level loop pile: loops are the same height, creating an informal look. Good for high-traffic areas.

Multi-level loop pile: usually has two to three different loop heights to create pattern effects, providing good durability and a more casual look.

Cut and loop pile: combination of cut and looped yarns. Provides variety of surface textures, including sculptured effects.

Courtesy the Carpet & Rug Institute, www.carpet-rug.org.

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