Which punch in of Carpet is Best for Your Home?
These loops of fiber can then be left either intact or cut at various angles and lengths.
How the fiber loops are treated is known as thecarpet pile.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
These characteristics determine the comfort of the carpet, how it feels underfoot, and its wear characteristics.
Here are the common carpet terms to know and types of carpet fibers and pile options to consider.
Carpet Terms
Carpeting has its own vocabulary that you will come across when shopping for carpets.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Learn what four key terms mean to help you confidently research and choose a carpet.
It is one of the most popular carpet fibers and many synthetic carpets are made of nylon.
It is usually affordably pricedless expensive than wool but more expensive than other synthetics.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
The cost of polypropylene is slightly less than most nylon carpets but more than polyester and acrylic.
Polyester
Polyester is prized for its ability to hold vibrant, fade-resistant colors.
It can also be prone to oil stains, which are very hard to remove from polyester fiber.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
But it is not a very durable material, and it doesn’t hold up well in high-traffic areas.
It is sometimes blended with wool.
Acrylics can sometimes turn brown if stained with certain alkaline chemicals, such as those found in cleaning products.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Unfortunately, low-grade wool is more susceptible to staining, while high-grade wool is extremely expensive.
Some manufacturers combine wool with synthetic fibers to create a carpet with the benefits of both.
Wool/acrylic blends are especially common.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
These carpets tend to be highly durable and resistant to stains, making it easier toclean the carpet.
These types of carpet are perfect for high-traffic commercial applications or high-traffic family areas, such as recreation rooms.
Loop pile carpets also don’t show indentations triggered by footprints and vacuum marks.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
It is also possible for a carpet to havecut-and-loopconstruction, where some fibers are cut and others are looped.
Cut Pile
Cut pileis a style of carpet where the exposed fibers are sheared off.
This typically produces soft, inviting, easy-to-clean carpets.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
On the downside, cut pile makes it easier to see footmarks and vacuum trails.
This tendency can be reduced by thetwistof the fibers.
The individual fibers contain a twist that helps the carpet stand up against matting and crushing.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
The heavier the twist, the more resistant the carpet will be to matting.
Heavy twist also helps create texture that hides wear and dirt.
The relatively short fibers stand straight up and down to create a lush, fuzzy surface.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
They are also somewhat more expensive than traditional cut-pile carpets.
Unfortunately, this carpet style is fairly temperamental.
This pile is suitable for mid- to high-level traffic areas.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
(This style is sometimes known asCalifornia shag.)
This highly durable style tends to hide dirt and wear and is suitable for high-traffic and commercial prefs.
These carpets are sometimes known ascut-and-looporpatternedcarpets.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
The different fiber cuts are sometimes arranged in geometric patterns, giving the carpet a three-dimensional texture.
However, remember that thicker isn’t always better for some carpets.
For example, a Berber carpet needs a thin but firm pad.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
If you have a radiant floor, you will need a non-insulating carpet pad.
Nylon carpet has been the traditional winner for the most durable carpet.
However,triextais a newcomer carpet fiber that is widely considered even more durable than nylon.
Low-pile nylon carpets are considered to be the easiest to clean and maintain.
Carpets made of synthetic fibers will stay the cleanest because they don’t easily absorb stains.
It’s very easy toremove stainsfrom synthetic carpeting.
Facility-Specific Considerations.Carpet and Rug Institute.
Protectors for Oleophilic Fibers.Restoration Industry Association.
The Best Carpeting Options for People With Allergies.Floor Coverings International.
Nastasi, Nicholas et al.Morphology and Quantification of Fungal Growth in Residential Dust and Carpets.Building and Environment,vol.
174, 2020. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106774
The Importance of Carpet Padding.CRI.
Types of Carpet Cushion.Carpet Cushion Council.
