Carpet Styles
Carpet Styles
Did you know? In buying carpet, whether buying from a Dalton
GA carpet wholesaler or from a local carpet retailer, you should understand
the difference between various carpet styles. Carpet performance and carpet
cleaning frequency is affected by carpet style section and carpet color selection.
Distinguishing the Differences
Inevitably, when consumers seek assistance with carpet problems, the first
question asked of the consumer is whether the carpet is a cut pile carpet or
loop pile carpet. Just as inevitable is the silence on the other end of the
phone. Few consumers really have an understanding of the product they have purchased.
It is no wonder that so many people have issues with carpet purchases. There
is no clear starting point in explaining carpet construction, but carpet styling
seems to be the easiest to explain.
Carpet can be distinguished into three primary constructions; loop pile, cut
pile, and cut and loop pile. Each of these construction types may be used in
the home; although cut piles represent the largest market share for residential
carpet. Loop pile carpets, such as Berber, have been increasing in popularity
over the past 10 years. Cut and loops represented a significant portion of carpet
sales during the 1970’s and 1980’s, but cut and loop usage has been
reduced considerably.
All carpet actually begins as a loop pile and the loops are cut during manufacturing
to provide the cut pile appearance. As the name implies, cut and loops are a
combination of cut loops and uncut loops to provide texture or patterns. Most
cut and loops are primarily cut piles with some loops left uncut for patterns;
although a few styles utilize the opposite effect.
Cut Pile Carpet
Cut pile constructions can be used in both residential and commercial carpet
installations. However, cut piles are used far more widely in residential applications
and comprise the largest share of the residential market. There are numerous
sub-categories of cut pile carpet. Each category provides a different appearance
or finished look. The following categories of cut pile can be found when shopping
for residential carpet.
Saxony – A saxony is a cut pile carpet in which two
or more plies of yarn have been twisted and heat-set so that the tip of each
carpet tuft is distinguishable on the pile surface. Saxonies have the tendency
to show footprints and vacuum cleaner sweeper marks. This is based in light
reflection of the fiber when pile direction is changed. When brushed in one
direction, the pile may assume a darker hue, while adjacent yarns brushed
in the opposite direction may present a lighter hue. When viewed in the opposite
direction, color hues of darker areas will appear lighter. This is not a defect
of any kind, but merely a characteristic of this carpet construction.
Plush – Sometimes called velvet because of the velvet
or velour appearance obtained by using staple yarn (see fiber) and high-density
construction. Plushes provide a more formal appearance than other cut pile
constructions. They are subject to revealing vacuum cleaner sweeper marks
and footprints due to light reflection similar to a saxony. Delustred (non-shiny)
yarns may reduce this shade variation. Plushes tend to be more subject to
pile reversal or water marking. Water marking is the result of permanent pile
reversal in localized areas. Watermarking provides the appearance of a wet
surface in darker shaded areas. The shape of these areas may appear irregular,
which reinforces the appearance of a wet area. This is considered a normal
occurrence for Plushes and is not considered a manufacturing defect. The occurrence
of water marking may be a result of local conditions or other unknown causes.
In previous examinations, products that have been replaced with similar problems
develop watermarking in the same areas, suggesting local influences.
Textured – Textured cut piles also may be called “trackless”,
“foot-print free”, “stuffer-box”, and mistakenly,
“frieze”. These names describe the tendency of this construction
to show fewer footprints and sweeper marks than other cut pile constructions.
It should be noted that no cut pile can be classified as being completely
free of shading. These constructions are obtained by stuffing yarn into a
steam box (stuffer box) and providing a kinked or curled yarn. The fiber is
exposed to live steam to set yarn memory in this curled position. This curling
of the fiber reduces light reflectance, thus reducing the appearance of footprints.
Generally, when viewing a texture from the top, kinked yarns may provide a
two-tone effect as a result of shade variations from reflected light.
Frieze – A true frieze is similar to a texture in
that footprints and vacuum cleaner marks are disguised. The textured appearance
is acquired by placed a high twist level on the plied yarns (see fiber). This
high twist level causes the tuft to twist back upon itself providing a kinked
appearance. In general terms, higher twist levels provide enhanced performance
characteristics, when compared to lower twist products with the same construction
attributes. True friezes tend to be more costly because of higher costs of
production and they may not provide the same perceived value as lower twist,
textured products.
While other cut pile categories exist, these constitute the most popular styles
of residential carpet. These include shag carpet – a low density, high
pile height product popular during the 1970’s. This construction tends
to increase and decrease in popularity depending upon design trends. Also, multi-level
cut piles, sometimes called carved saxonies, utilize higher and lower cuts to
form patterns.
Next >> Loop Pile Carpet
Article by Michael Hilton of carpetbuyershandbook.com - the Largest Online
Source for Unbiased Carpet Information (http://carpetbuyershandbook.com)
| Get
Your Free Email Mini-Course!
"The Tricks and Traps of Buying Carpet"
Jam-packed with tips, tricks and advice for anyone who's
looking to purchase new carpeting for their home!
Enter your name and email below now and get the
first part sent to you in a matter of seconds!
*Your
information will never be sold or disclosed to anyone. We respect your
privacy and hate junk email as much as you do! |
| 
