You’ve decided on carpet for your home. Great, now what? With so many options available for carpeting, it can be difficult to determine which is best for you and your home. We’ve compiled a short list of facts to help you along the way.
The Process
Carpet is manufactured in these two common methods:
- Tufted – Rows of machine-pinched yarns help together by adhesive and backing.
- Woven – Made from a process of weaving materials together. The face yarns are woven and formed on a loom by interweaving warp and weft yarns.
The most common method, tufting, produces a carpet that will last a good five to seven years. While more expensive, woven carpet, totes a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Longevity is obviously something you want to consider, but these two manufacturing processes are not the only feature to consider.
The Pile
Other key features to look for when deciding on your carpet is whether or not the pile is shear or loop. Sheared carpet is just as it sounds, the yarn has been cut before or during the manufacturing process. Loop pile, however, is carpet yarn in its original form and can produce a more durable material. Leaving nothing to “pull off” or come loose over the lifespan of the material.
The Fiber
This brings us to the specific material that carpets can be made from. Fibers determine the feel and durability of your carpet. If you are looking for a more natural fiber choose from:
- Wool – Resilient, naturally stain-resistant, and flame retardant.
- Silk – Soft, luxurious, takes dyes better, and more durable.
- Cotton – Wears well, naturally soft, needs to be cleaned routinely.
Or choose from more cost-effective and durable synthetic fibers:
- Nylon – Most popular, durable, resilient, stain-resistant. More expensive.
- Polyester – Soft, stain-resistant, and affordable.
- Olefin – Glossy fiber, water and stain-resistant, less expensive. Can be used outdoors.
- Triexta – Similar to polyester but softer and more resilient.
Choosing the best fiber for your needs is the last step before finally settling on color. And just when you thought the hard work was over…
The Colors
Like most flooring, your gut will tell you to stay neutral. A nice safe beige and you can’t go wrong. Right? Once it’s installed, however, your furnishings and wall color and other accessories can suddenly make that beige seem a totally different color. Be very wary of pink undertones, they can cause a safe neutral to suddenly become a nightmare. Be sure to take a sample home with you so you can see it under your homes lighting and next to your furnishings. A safer bet is to stick with a green or grey undertone. Save bold or patterned carpets for accent areas like stairwells, kids rooms, or feature closets and smaller rooms.
Choosing carpet is no small feat, and the options can seem overwhelming. Now that you’ve done a little homework, proceed with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction and comfort of wall to wall carpet in your home.
Affordable Elegance—At Southern Floor Company our process is designed to exceed expectations. We start with a product analysis then evaluate your project together, propose costs, order products, install, and conduct a final walk through. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4!
Contact us to schedule a Design Center or Mobile Showroom appointment: 501-623-3000 today.
