Category: Carpet Cleaning

What Are The Different Types Of Carpeting For Home?

What Are The Different Types Of Carpeting For Home?

Carpets are popular with several homeowners. One might get confused when it comes to selecting them in a market. There are a plethora of types of carpeting for homes. They sure amp up the interior look and feel of any living space. While there are various types of carpet colors and patterns, there is also a variety in their construction.

When you are selecting a carpet, you need to make careful choices. The selection must be a perfect blend of practicality and choice. The carpeting should suit the kind of usage subjected. Also, it should fit in your choice of colors, design, and, most importantly-budget.

You require a certain degree of research before purchasing a carpet fit for your home. This blog will guide you in making your decision. Learn about all types of carpet fibers, cuts, styles, and patterns in this blog.

Different Types Of Carpeting For Home

Before diving straight into the different types of carpets, let’s look at some basics first. There are four components of a carpet- Fiber, Pile, Grade, and Backing. The carpet fiber is the material of your carpet. It can be either natural or synthetic.

Fibers vary in thickness. Each strand of fiber yarn gets woven multiple times. A yarn strand is called a ply. For example, in a 3-ply carpet, each fiber is woven of 3 yarn strands and secured in the backing.

The arrangement of these fibers on a carpet is called a carpet pile. It is a determining factor in the carpet’s look and nature. The carpet grade determines its overall quality. It consists of factors such as fiber quality and faces weight. Lastly comes the carpet backing. It has two components- primary and secondary padding. The primary carpet backing is where the fibers are attached, while the second layer separates the carpet from the floor.

Let us now look into the different types of carpets based on various factors.

Types Of Carpet Based On Fibers 

Types Of Carpet Based On Fibers 

Nylon:

It is a common, attractive, and affordable synthetic fiber. Its other qualities include stain resistance and mold resistance, and it does not fade. Most of the carpets today are nylon.

Wool:

Wool is a natural fiber that is long-lasting and stain-resistant. It is strong and does not get dirty quickly. The downsides are that it needs regular cleaning and costs more than a synthetic carpet.

Polypropylene:

It is a synthetic carpet fiber made out of plastic. It is super water-resistant and solution-dyed. Polypropylene does not fade readily. However, it wears out in heavy traffic areas and has a slight waxy feeling to touch.

Cotton:

It is an ultra-soft natural fiber. Cotton is easy to clean, but it also gets dirty readily. It is prone to wear and tear. Hence, a cotton carpet is best in rooms with little activity.

Types Of Carpets Based On Pile 

The carpet fibers can be attached to the backing in different ways.

This varied attachment creates different types of carpet piles. The most common carpet piles are- Cut, Loop, Cut & Loop.

Cut Pile:

The carpet yarns are cut at specific lengths and twisted into tufts. The cut piles can vary in height, resulting in varied cut pile carpets. These carpets give a luxurious and formal look. Some notable cut pile carpets are Plush, Saxony, and Frieze.

Loop Pile:

The carpet yarns are twisted into loops and attached twice to the carpet backing. This style gives the carpet a matted look. Loops also vary in height and texture. Carpets having loop piles are low maintenance. They are durable and dense. The most common loop pile carpets are Berber and High-Low Loop Carpet.

Cut-and-Loop Pile:

This method uses both the techniques- of cut and loop. Cut and loop lend the carpet a noticeable design. It is noticeable because both pile types result in different textures. Patterned carpeting often makes use of cut and loop piles.

Types Of Carpets Based On Grade & Backing 

A carpet grade depends on fiber quality, face weight, and the number of plys. However, there is no standard format for grading. It is a subjective term. The carpets come in low, medium, and high grades.

Low Grade:

These carpets are lightweight and inexpensive. You can find them in rental apartments. Low-grade carpets last for not more than 3-5 years.

Medium Grade:

These carpets are affordable and durable. They can last for at least ten years with proper care and maintenance.

High Grade:

These carpets can last for up to twenty years. They consist of fine quality fibers- generally wool. These are very heavy and cost up to thrice the amount of low-grade carpets.

Many people get confused between the terms carpet backing and padding. Carpet backing is the layer where the fibers attach themselves. A carpet pad is separately attached to provide additional support, while a carpet back provides cushioning. It also helps in improving insulation and noise reduction.

Carpet backing comes in two layers. The primary layer is where the fibers are attached. The secondary layer acts as a cushion between the primary layer and the floor. It comes in numerous materials, such as polyurethane, plastic, and jute.

Polyurethane:

It is the most common backing material. Polyurethane is affordable, super strong, and water-resistant. It is recyclable as well. This type of backing has strong adhesion and keeps the carpet together for a long.

Plastic:

The plastic backing is gentle and soft. It provides durability and helps extend the life of your floors. However, the downside is that plastic backing tends to stretch in humid areas. Thus, it is best to avoid using them near wet places like the bathroom or kitchen.

Jute:

Jute carpet backing is soft, strong, and durable. It might be pricey because it is derived naturally and may not be readily available. Jute tends to be slippery on slick surfaces like hardwood. As a result, one should have a non-slip carpet pad underneath.

How to pick the right type of carpet for your home? 

types-of-carpet

Carpets come in a lot of varieties, as discussed above. Each of those carpets looks and functions differently. Some are meant for high-traffic areas, while some only fulfill the aesthetic function. You need to have different sorts of carpets for each room.

Now let us look at a few points that help you pick the correct type of carpet. 

Usage:

You need to select the carpets that suit your use. In rooms with high traffic and activity, choose such that can best hide stains and are durable.

Comfort Needs:

Some carpets are opulent in look and feel. And other look rustic and weather-beaten. Select plush carpets in areas of the highest display. Rooms like storage and laundry can do with lightweight and breezy ones better.

Carpet Backing:

The carpet backing contributes to its overall function. Pick according to the placement in the house. For example, a bathroom goes well with a plastic or polyurethane backing, given its water resistance.

Carpet Style:

Different carpet piles lend a varied look. Select according to your lifestyle. Plush and Saxony look luxurious but also show traffic lanes. Berber looks dense and works best in high-traffic areas. It is efficient in hiding soiling and stains.

Maintenance Requirements:

Some carpets look rich and dense but are tough to clean. For example, Shag looks high-end but is extremely difficult to clean. Pick textured Saxony, level loop, or high-density loop carpets to conceal stains and resist dirt. These types are easier to clean.

The Bottom Line 

Carpets are essential for modern living. They are soft and comfy and make any area appear pleasant instantly. However, much goes into selecting and maintaining carpets. It can be overwhelming when one goes into every detail before buying them. Thus, this guide will serve you well when you have to choose one.

You might go for visual appeal and repent later when cleaning. It is not that everyone avoids rich-looking carpets because they are difficult to clean. Talk with the store representative while purchasing to understand their structure and maintenance needs.

You can devise a strategy to keep your carpets clean. Spend weekends cleaning the easiest ones. Call for a professional carpet cleaning service to help to clean the delicate ones. You need professional carpet cleaning only twice a year at most. Hence, it is not much of stress to maintain fragile carpets when you have professional cleaners.

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