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  • Writer's pictureHannah Diane

Carpet - Types and tips!

Why choose carpet for your room?

Carpets add warmth and soak up the sound. Perfect for shared spaces and busy households. However, carpets have become less popular now with many people opting for timber floors due to their allergies and the warmer weather conditions (dependant on where they are located!).


First here's a little history lesson on how carpets are made:


Almost all carpets are made from the manipulation of raw fibre. Fibres are put through a spinning process to turn them into carpet yarn. The yarn is then twisted, pulled and woven to make carpet using three main methods:

1) Weaving - woven carpets (these used to be handwoven)

2) Tufting - these are more modern, machine made and usually with solution dyed nylon.

3) Bonding - these are flatter and glued together with resin - to make carpet tiles for offices.



Woven carpets:

Also called Axminster carpets as they originated in Axminster, England. These carpets can incorporate a large number of coloured yarns and intricately patterend carpet designs. These carpets tend to be the most expensive type due to the cost of operation of the weaving loom, speed of manufacturing process and the niche market for patterned carpets (these are usually used in hotels etc, they're not so popular in residential homes).


Axminster carpets can be made from wool too - hotels, hospitality projects and residential homes love this option as it creates a dense weave and makes the carpets even more hardwearing (25 years of wear at least). They have the highest retention of their appearance as well as they don't flattened as easily as a tufted carpet.


Tufted carpets became very popular in the 1960's as they kept their appearance overtime, felt plush, and lasted a long time. They create a great backdrop for design as they are a consistent, simple appearance throughout the entire carpet. These Axminster carpets are all known for their plush feeling, their ability to add and retain warmth in a space, and their help with the acoustics in the home (as they absorb sound).


Have you ever wanted to create your own design for your carpet?

It is possible to have your own design produced, so sketch it up and let out that creative side. Design your own repeated pattern or better yet get something digitally printed. Have a look at what others have done to get inspired!


Think about what you will use your carpet for:


Do you want something long lasting?

Stain resistant?

Fade resistant?

Warm?

Durable?

Easy to replace? (For example, offices choose carpet tile squares so they can replace just one if needed).

Easy to clean?

Do you want underlay or not?

Do you know which carpets rot and can grow mildew in damper climates?


There are different grades of carpet - heavy duty residential, light traffic residential, heavy duty commercial and light traffic commercial. Carpets can contain just one type of fibre or a blend of a few to create a longer lasting lifespan as synthetic materials such as nylon aren't going to rot, stain or change in appearance overtime.


Natural Fibres:


Wool - considered very high quality carpets. But be careful, wool doesn't like humidity or moisture, so if you live in a changeable climate, consider blending wool with synthetic fibres. Wool carpets are resistant to combustion, flame retardant and anti-static (under normal conditions). They are inherently springy due to their natural origins (the sheep's back!).


Wool Blends - As wool is durable and can be dyed easily, this can be increased when it is blended with nylon as it increases the stability of the fibres. This is also a more affordable option for those wanting quality at a cheaper cost.


Silk - Silk is rarely used in carpets as it is so delicate. However in handmade rugs you will find silk - particularly in rugs made in the Middle East and Indian regions.


Jute - This was used to back carpets (they call it a secondary backing) but this has now been replaced with nylon fabric backing.


Coir - Made from the fibres of coconut husks, this is a strong and resilient fibre. They use this fibre in doormats as they're particularly good at removing dirt and moisture from the soles of your shoes.


Sisal - These are very tough fibres and they can be dyed (unlike many other natural fibres). When combined with wool, sisal can become softer and create a natural and colourful looking flooring option.


Seagrass - This fibre is highly renewable and therefore a great choice for the eco-concious buyer. It is impermeable once harvested and spun into yarn. This makes it hard to dye but it is easy to care for in the longrun.


Man-Made Fibres:


Nylon - This is often added to wool carpets to create a wear resistance, and increased UV resistance (particularly in carpets of a lower pile weight or density). Usually 'woolrich' carpets can have a ratio of 90:10 wool/nylon ratio. Solution Dyed Nylon has fast become the most popular carpets since wool carpets. Th name Solution Dyed Nylon is given because the nylon plastic pellets are dyed before they're even made into yarn, giving them perfect coverage of the colour. If opting for nylon carpets, always make sure to choose a thick underlay to go underneath so that it is softer underfoot.


Polypropylene - This is the carpet often used for garage spaces and offices, as it handles foot traffic well and is easy to clean and care for. It is a good choice if the budget is tight as it is a cheap carpet.


Acrylic - This type of carpet is not as hard wearing as nylon and not as fire resistant as wool, but it can still keep its shape (bulk and pile) as a carpet.


So, all in all, you need to rememeber that the thickness of the carpet does not neccessarily mean your carpet is better quality - you want a tight twist in each piece of yarn, look at the construction of the carpet as a whole - a firm dense pile is the mark of a good quality carpet.

How can you check the density? Bend down the corner of a piece of carpet and see how much of the backing you can spot. The more backing you can see, the less dense and durable this carpet is.


If you're choosing your carpet for a high traffic area, consider choosing a lower profile, low pile height carpet as this won't matte and crush as easily. And don't forget your underlay! If you want a plush feeling carpet, choose an underlay of 11mm thickness with a 130kg weight load as this will improve the look and feel of your entire space.




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