Nothing compares to the soft, luxurious feeling of carpet under your feet.
Carpeting provides a safe, comfortable spot for kids to play and may even reduce the risk of injury during a fall.
Sure, carpet requires a bit of extra maintenance compared to vinyl or tile, but there’s simply no substitute in terms of sound absorption, warmth and overall comfort.
With so many different colours, materials and designs available, it can be difficult to choose the best carpet for your home. Some materials may require frequent cleanings that simply won’t fit into your busy schedule, others come with a high price tag and some may even have an effect on your health.
The wrong carpet may wear out quickly, fade or show stains that stubbornly resist your best cleaning efforts.
Protect your investment and choose the best carpeting for your home with these simple buying tips...
Carpet, simple buying tips...
- Compare colours and patterns to ensure that you’re satisfied with the carpet you choose.
- Select the right underlay.
- Does the carpet come with any guarantee / warranty?
- Understand any maintenance requirements.
- Select a reputable establishment that specialises in carpeting.
- It’s critical to select the right carpeting for your stairs, since stairs get a lot of wear.
Capet Troubleshooting
Colour Matching
Carpets are produced in batches – known as creels – and usually each batch produces between 550m2 – 3000m2 in a single width, depending on the creel size.
Whilst the recipe used by the dyer remains constant and is followed to the letter, in each separate production the colour reproduction will vary from batch to batch. However the production is matched back to the original master sample to ensure that the colour remains ‘within a commercial tolerance’.
Fading on Wool
Carpets made from wool can and do fade in use.
The degree of fade can vary depending on the colour chosen and the local conditions to which the carpet is subjected.
Fading can be caused by exposure to ultra violet light which is found in daylight, but is accelerated when sunlight shines directly onto the carpet. This has the effect of lightening or ‘bleaching’ the colour just as exposure to sunlight will lighten human hair. Wool is after all, animal hair.
Sprouting
Occasionally an odd tuft or two can work its way to the surface and stand proud of the rest of the pile.
This is probably due the end of the tuft being longer that the other i.e. J shaped tuft instead of v shaped. Redial action merely requires that the offending tufts be scissor trimmed level with the rest of the pile. They should never be pulled out.
Flattening
Flattening will occur as a result of traffic which eventually flattens the pile particularly in the main area of use.
Shading/ Pile Reversal
Shading and pile reversal occurs because the pile of the carpet has become crushed, flattened or brushed in a different direction to the natural lie of the pile whilst in situ.
This causes light reflection at different angles resulting in the creation of light and dark patches on the carpet.
This will occur all pile fabrics but can be more noticeable on plainer carpets because the shadows created by the pile pressure will not be disguised by a heavy pattern or design.
Different Carpet Styles
Woven Carpets
Wilton
Wilton carpets are also made using a traditional weaving process. The pile yarn is incorporated into the woven backing and the number of colours that can be used is more limited, usually up to five. The pile can be cut or looped and varied in height … to create patterned textures. Some modern Wilton looms are able to produce two broadloom carpets face-to-face at the same
time, with a knife slitting the two carpets apart. High volume production using synthetic yarns is possible on these machines.
Woven Carpets
Axminster
A traditionally woven carpet which takes its name from the town of Axminster in Devon where these carpets were first produced. Axminster is usually patterned and may have up to 30 different coloured yarns incorporated into the weave.… There are two different types of loom used to produce these carpets. Spool Axminster provides the highest number of colour options, but the setting up of these machines is time-consuming and expensive. Gripper Axminster has a more
limited range of colours, usually up to eight.
Tufted Carpets
Tufted carpets are made by “stitching” multiple lines of pile yarn into a pre-made backing cloth — the primary backing. The spacing between the needles is known as the “gauge” of the carpet, higher gauges producing denser pile. The tufts are held in place with adhesive … spread over the primary backing and a secondary backing is laid into the adhesive. The secondary backing may be of hessian, synthetic fabric, foam or felt.
Tufted carpets in certain fibres can also be dyed and/or printed to give colours and patterns. The printing is usually visible at the tips of the pile only and does not penetrate through the pile to
the backing like on a patterned woven carpet.
Flatwoven Carpets
These carpets are woven like a fabric and so have
a textured surface with the yarn lying flat, passing
under and over weft yarns, with no upright pile.… Some flatweaves may have a backing. Although primarily a method of producing rugs, flatweaves
are available for wall to wall fitting. Special care must be taken to stop any cut edges fraying by applying or spraying a sealer/adhesive to the backing before cutting, and to cut edges. These carpets are not suitable for stretch fitting but may be fitted over underlay without stretching, or by using the stick down or double-stick method.
Bonded Carpets
Bonded carpets are made by fixing the pile onto
the backing using a heat sensitive bonding
material. It may be referred to as fibre or fusion
bonded carpet.
Needlepunch Carpets
Needlepunch (or needlefelt) carpets are produced
by rapidly moving needles punching loose fibres
through a backing. The felted surface may be
smooth or ribbed (corded).
Different Carpet Styles
Woven Carpets
Axminster
A traditionally woven carpet which takes its name from the town of Axminster in Devon where these carpets were first produced. Axminster is usually patterned and may have up to 30 different coloured yarns incorporated into the weave.… There are two different types of loom used to produce these carpets. Spool Axminster provides the highest number of colour options, but the setting up of these machines is time-consuming and expensive. Gripper Axminster has a more
limited range of colours, usually up to eight.
Woven Carpets
Wilton
Wilton carpets are also made using a traditional weaving process. The pile yarn is incorporated into the woven backing and the number of colours that can be used is more limited, usually up to five. The pile can be cut or looped and varied in height … to create patterned textures. Some modern Wilton looms are able to produce two broadloom carpets face-to-face at the same
time, with a knife slitting the two carpets apart. High volume production using synthetic yarns is possible on these machines.
Tufted Carpets
Tufted carpets are made by “stitching” multiple lines of pile yarn into a pre-made backing cloth — the primary backing. The spacing between the needles is known as the “gauge” of the carpet, higher gauges producing denser pile. The tufts are held in place with adhesive … spread over the primary backing and a secondary backing is laid into the adhesive. The secondary backing may be of hessian, synthetic fabric, foam or felt.
Tufted carpets in certain fibres can also be dyed and/or printed to give colours and patterns. The printing is usually visible at the tips of the pile only and does not penetrate through the pile to
the backing like on a patterned woven carpet.
Flatwoven Carpets
These carpets are woven like a fabric and so have
a textured surface with the yarn lying flat, passing
under and over weft yarns, with no upright pile.… Some flatweaves may have a backing. Although primarily a method of producing rugs, flatweaves
are available for wall to wall fitting. Special care must be taken to stop any cut edges fraying by applying or spraying a sealer/adhesive to the backing before cutting, and to cut edges. These carpets are not suitable for stretch fitting but may be fitted over underlay without stretching, or by using the stick down or double-stick method.
Bonded Carpets
Bonded carpets are made by fixing the pile onto
the backing using a heat sensitive bonding
material. It may be referred to as fibre or fusion
bonded carpet.
Needlepunch Carpets
Needlepunch (or needlefelt) carpets are produced
by rapidly moving needles punching loose fibres
through a backing. The felted surface may be
smooth or ribbed (corded).
Natural Floorcoverings
These floorcoverings are made from natural fibres and are usually flatwoven. Natural fibres are moisture
sensitive, so the humidity of the environment needs to be considered and the products need to be fully acclimatised and fitted with the room at its normal operating conditions. Cut edges need protection from fraying. Some of the most common types of natural floorcoverings are:
• ABACA: Related to the banana plant, this silky fibre is spun into yarns which are woven to form floorcoverings.
• COIR: From the husk of the coconut, this coarse fibre has traditionally been used for doormats. It is now used to create durable floorcoverings suitable for areas of high usage.
• JUTE: A fine and soft fibre used for making hessian and still used for backing some carpets. As a floorcovering in its own right, it is best suited for light usage.
• SEAGRASS: A strong fibre, spun into yarns for weaving into flooring. Suitable for most areas in the home except for stairs (unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer).
• SISAL: Traditionally used for making ropes, sisal has natural strength and is hard wearing, so it is suitable for all areas of the home.
Why not discuss this with us further?
