Generally, carpet is graded by the materials used, the fiber type, the fiber weight, the tuft
twist and how well it is constructed overall. Carpet construction can be quite confusing for anyone so...
Let's narrow it down to three basic things:
FIBER
Carpets can be made from many different fibers. Some fibers are good, some fibers
are not so good. There are 6 basic (synthetic) fibers to choose from:
-
Nylon
-
Olefin (also called polypropylene)
-
Polyester
-
P.E.T. (a poyester made from recycled
materials)
-
Sorona (a polymer made from corn)
-
Blend (a combination of two fibers)
Which fiber will be the best choice for you?
The main
problem is, many carpet salespeople can't or won't help you make the right fiber choices. They either don't have sufficient
fiber knowledge, or just don't care what fiber you select.
Would
you ever ask a Car salesperson to tell you what type of Car you should buy? Of course not!
So do not ask any carpet salesperson what carpet you should buy. You need to determine that by a process of
elimination. You need to take many things into consideration...such as....How many people live in your home? Do you have small
kids or pets? Do you entertain often? Do you live in a moist climate? Is this for a basement area? Do you have teenagers?
do you have elderly people in the home? Do your pets have occasional wet accidents? and more....
What fiber you select is critical. But so is the density rating...read on.
Density
Density is how thick
the carpet is. Generally, the thicker the better, but the pile height also plays a role in how long the carpet will look like
new and how easy it is to clean and vacuum. Better quality carpets have a density rating of 2000 or more.
When a carpet is dense
it wears longer and looks like new longer. If a carpet is not very dense, it may mat down quickly. Once it does, nothing will
bring it back to its original appearance.
Twist
In plush style carpets,
fibers are grouped together and twisted to form tufts. The amount of twist each tuft has is important. Some carpets have a
tighter twist which makes the carpet more durable and look like new longer. The tuft twist is determined by the number of
twists per lineal inch. Better quality carpets have a twist of 5 or more.
The tighter the twist
the longer it looks great and holds its shape. Tufts that are not twisted as tight will unravel quickly and then the carpet
will look worn out and tired.
