Carpet Selection Specification Characteristics

Fiber

• The carpet material that people see and walk on is called face fiber. Four types of fibers are principally used to make carpet. Of the four, three are man-made fibers: nylon, olefin and polyester. Nylon is the most commonly used. It has the feel and luster of wool, a natural fiber. It tends to age well when it is not abused with heavy traffic and is fire-resistant. Olefin and polyester lack the resilience of nylon but can offer value depending on the type of wear and exposure the carpet will have and the life expectancy the buyer has in mind.

Texture

• The elements that go into carpet design are texture, dying and color. As for texture, most new carpets are tufted. Tufting is a manufacturing process that attaches the carpet fiber to a backing. Common textures are piles in various combinations of uncut and cut and loop textures including textured loop and level loop. Durability and aesthetics come from a balance between these textures. What consumers notice is both depth and softness. Loop-textured carpeting withstands traffic better than cut-pile carpets unless they are patterned well enough to disguise the wear of foot traffic. Weaving is another process for creating texture, which tends to be more expensive than tufted carpet.

Dying and Color

• Tufted carpets receive color through various procedures. In some instance, yarn gets dyed before it is tufted. The most often used predyeing method is called skein dyeing. The process is labor intensive and permits colors to be clean and clear in large, consistent dye lots. Another predyeing process is called solution dyeing, and its advantage is that the resulting carpet fibers remain colorfast and resistant to fading even after rigorous cleaning. This process is favored for carpets used in health care and hospitality. Continuous dyeing is a post-dyeing method. The undyed carpet is sprayed with dye. It is an efficient and economical method. In some instances, color consistency can be compromised, especially where edges are seamed together.

Design

• Some designs are better than others for disguising traffic patterns and creating an elegant look. Colors in the midtone range can hide a variety of sins, for example. If the carpet cannot be spot cleaned immediately and is subject to staining from dark soils and chemicals, a two- or three-tone color pattern in a high-low pattern can retain good looks for longer than a smoother texture in a lighter color. The shape and conditions of walls and corners can also affect the carpet choice. Some patterns, such as stripes or grids, will only serve to accentuate irregularities and imperfections, especially in hallways and other narrow spaces.