Nothing compares to the soft, luxurious feeling of carpet under your feet.

view of carpet on stairs

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

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?