Does choosing carpet make you dizzy?

Been to a flooring store lately? Notice the rows and rows of carpet samples that all look alike and sales people who can't explain the differences?  After awhile, your head starts to spin.  But it doesn't have to be this confusing.  Simply Floored would like to help make it simple.

When it comes to choosing carpet, style and performance are the two most important factors (other than, price, which is directly impacted by style and performance). 

Carpet styles can be divided into five primary categories: Saxony, Textured and Frieze are cut pile carpets, meaning that the tufts of yarn are cut after being threaded through the backing.  Berbers are created by leaving the loops of yarn in place.  Patterned carpets combine cut pile with loop yarn, or loop yarn of different heights to create distinctive patterns.

You can learn more about these different styles of carpet by clicking on the links above or checking out SimplyFloored.com.  But finding the right style of carpet is only the first step.  How that carpet will perform in your home (e.g., stand up to regular wear and tear including daily traffic, spills and pets) is also an important consideration. 

Carpet performance is determined by four factors: 

• The fiber used to make the yarn;
• How the carpet is constructed;
• The carpet backing; and
• The pad over which the carpet is installed.

FIBER - Most carpet today is manufactured with synthetic, or man-made, fibers.  The fiber represents 75% of the cost of making carpet, so the type of fiber has a significant impact on carpet price.

The three most common fibers are olefin, polyester or nylon.

Olefin is a relatively inexpensive fiber used to make cheaper Berbers.  It is solution dyed, which means the color is added as the yarn is produced.  This "locks in" the color, creating a fiber that is highly resistant to staining and fading.  However, Olefin is not as resilient as other man-made fibers, so Olefin carpet is more likely to crush and matte over time.  Olefin also has an oily residue on its surface, causing dirt to adhere to the yarn, so Olefin carpet is more likely to appear soiled over time.  You've probably seen carpet stains near entryways that just won't come out:  that's Olefin.

Polyester is the most widely used fiber for residential carpets because it is relatively soft, inherently stain and fade resistant, can be made in rich, bright colors (because it's dyed AFTER the yarn is produced) and is very affordable. 

With advances in engineering, premium Polyester fibers are now available offering some of the best values in carpet, with increased softness and enhanced durability.

Nylon is the premium man-made fiber, offering more value for your money than any other carpet fiber.  Nylon is incredibly soft, durable and resilient.  It is highly resistant to wear, stains and fading and is available in a wide array of colors, from softer neutrals to bright, bold colors.  Special branded nylon fibers, such as PermaSoft Nylon from Beaulieu or DuPont's STAINMASTER Tactesse Nylon, have been developed using state-of-the-art technology to produce softer, yet even more durable and stain resistant carpets.    

CONSTRUCTION - How a carpet is constructed impacts how the carpet will stand up to daily wear. 

Twist refers to how tightly the yarns in each tuft are twisted together.  A tighter twist produces a carpet with more consistency in appearance and greater resistance to matting and traffic.  Carpets with low twist are more likely to become unraveled and fray at the ends over time.  Don't be fooled by inexpensive carpet featuring high pile height but less twist, creating the appearance of a fuller yarn. Over time, the yarn will unravel, or "flower".

Density is a factor of weight, pile height and, most importantly, how close the tufts are spaced together.  Tufts that are closer together are higher in density resulting in better performance. You can measure density by pressing down on the carpet with one finger and seeing how easy or difficult it is to penetrate the backing.  Better, denser carpets are more difficult to penetrate.  

Most sales people focus on carpet "weight", but weight by itself does not tell you enough about the carpet's quality.  Density is a much more critical measure of a carpet's performance.  Beware of lower-priced carpets that feature relatively high weight in ounces but low density, as they tend to matte and crush very easily. 

Carpet Backing - Yarn is stitched through a backing material to create tufts.  The carpet backing holds the yarn in place. The quality of the backing impacts the carpet's durability, seam strength and overall appearance.  Standard backing is made from woven polypropylene.  Less quality carpets use backing made from cheaper chemicals that make the backing tough and brittle.  Over time, the backing loosens up, causing the carpet to sag and wrinkle.

Premium carpet backing, made from fiber, offers many benefits over standard backing.  Premium backing is softer and more flexible, making the carpet more comfortable to walk on.  Premium backing also produces cleaner seams that are less vulnerable to peaking and are woven so tight that spills stay above the pad longer, giving you more time to clean before it stains the carpet.

Carpet Pad - In terms of a carpet's performance, carpet pad is as important as the carpet itself.  Carpet pad helps increase comfort and maintain the carpet's original appearance by absorbing foot traffic and improving the efficiency of vacuuming. Selecting the "correct" pad (as specified by the manufacturer) helps minimize matting and crushing, as well as soiling and staining. A quality pad can increase the useful life of carpet by 50%, allowing the carpet to maintain its pile height and stay looking new longer.  Most importantly, using a pad that does not meet manufacturer specifications (or reusing the existing pad instead of replacing it with new pad) voids product warranties.  

Of course, selling an inexpensive pad is an easy way to get the price down... at your expense!  Ever spill something on the carpet and clean it up, only to find the stain reappear the next day?  That's because, with poorer quality pads, the spill seeps into the pad, where you can't see it until it wicks back up into the carpet after you think you have cleaned it.

Premium carpet pads contain moisture barriers that keep the spills above the pad, so you have time to clean the stain without having it wick back up.  Some pads even contain anti microbial chemicals that help break down odors in the carpet. 

With so much to consider when shopping for carpet, doesn't it make sense to have a professional who can help you make a more informed decision?  With Simply Floored, our Design Consultant will come to you, with over 1,800 flooring options that you can compare against your own patterns and colors, and will answer all of your questions.  Our dedicated team will make sure your job gets done right, including installation by experienced professionals. 

Simply put, Simply Floored offers the best value in flooring!