Broadloom carpet is carpeting that is woven on a wide loom.

It generally refers to tufted, wall-to-wall carpet.

What Is a Loom?

rolled broadloom

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A loom is a gadget that is used to weave fabric.

How Is Broadloom Sold?

These rolls are typically approximately 150 feet in length.

Rolls of carpet in warehouse inventory

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Although Canada generally uses the metric system, it widely uses imperial measurements in the floor covering industry.

Historically, the carpet was almost always sold by the square yard.

Types of Broadloom Carpeting

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Broadloom carpeting is categorized by fiber types.

Closeup of berber carpet loop construction

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These types determine the texture, look, and feel of the carpet.

These are the primary types:

How Is Broadloom Installed?

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Broadloom is most often sold to be installed wall-to-wall.

Carpet install

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In residential homes, it is usuallyinstalled over an underpad.

In commercial applications, it may be glued directly to the floor.

Making Area Rugs

Broadloom does not have to be fully installed wall-to-wall.

Berber carpet in living room

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It can be cut to a specific size.

Shorter rug lengths can be used, like area rugs orcarpet runners.

Carpeting vendors often sell these pre-cut remnants at a reduced price for the same quality.

The only difference is that the piece is cut off from the original roll to a particular length.

To prevent fraying, area rugs, runners, and remnants should be finished along the edges.

Pros and Cons of Broadloom

The alternative to broadloom carpet is carpet tiles.

An advantage of a broadloom carpet is it looks seamless and gives the illusion of a larger room.

Carpet tiles give a room a tiled appearance, tending to be choppier.

On another positive note, broadloom carpeting is the softest option available.

A disadvantage of a broadloom carpet is it’s more complex to install.

It can be a labor-intensive process that requires special tools.

Many people prefer hiring professional installers, often at an added cost.