back to Products page

Carpet Guide

Broadloom, or wall-to-wall carpet, is one of the easiest ways to personalize an environment and offers vast styling options. The texture, colors and pattern of carpet can complement or contrast with patterns of your furniture and window treatments or be a neutral foundation or a vibrant focal point you can build around. For the world of color at your feet, you need go no further than your local flooring specialty retailer. 

Versatile style

With a style all its own, broadloom carpet gives you more than just color. Texture. Pattern. Prints. Today's carpet is just as comfortable in a formal living room as it is in a casual family room. The only limit is your imagination. 
 
Carpet offers so many benefits besides sheer beauty - like warmth (it has natural insulation properties), comfort underfoot and safety. And don't forget to ask about the newest soft yarn systems that give carpet a luxurious feel. Best of all, today's stain-resistant carpets stand up to dirt and stains from even the busiest households. That's especially important for large, active families or for those with small children. 
 
It's also a fantastic bargain. Carpet prices have remained affordable even as the styling options and performance features have gotten better and better. There's a reason why carpet is America's number one choice of floor covering. 

Basic configurations

New technology in carpet manufacturing has produced a variety of constructions and design options, such as diamonds, bows, pin dots or fleur-de-lis motifs that "pop" out in sculptured effects. Here are a few of the basics: 
 
Cut pile - Loops are cut, leaving individual yarn tufts. Still one of today's most popular constructions, its durability is achieved with factors including the type of fiber, density of tufts and the amount of twist in the yarn. Examples of cut pile carpet include: 
 
* Plush/Velvet: Smooth, level surfaces; formal atmosphere, "velvet." 
* Saxony: Smooth, level finish, but pile yarns have more twist so that the yarn ends are visible and create a less formal look. Minimizes foot prints. 
* Friezé: In this cut pile, the yarns are extremely twisted, forming a "curly" textured surface. This informal look also minimizes foot prints and vacuum marks. 
* Shag - Yes, they're back. But they're nothing like the shag carpet you remember from the '70s. Gone are Harvest Gold and Avocado Green. Instead look for a more sophisticated color palette and a smart casual look. 
 
Level loop pile: Loops are the same height, creating an informal look. It generally performs well even in high-traffic areas. Many of today's popular Berber styles are level loop styles with flecks of a darker color on a lighter background. Many level loops come in nylon/polypropylene blends. 
 
Multi-level loop pile: Usually has two to three different loop heights to create pattern effects and surface texture, providing good durability and a more casual look. 
 
Cut and loop pile: Combination of cut and looped yarns; provides variety of surface textures, including sculptured effects of squares, chevrons and swirls. 
 
Patterned carpet: By utilizing yarns of varying heights and treatments, patterned carpet offers everything from floral designs to geometric to pin-dots. 
 
Prints - Prints can be just about anything these days in virtually any color you can imagine. 
 
Woven - This refers to the way the carpet was constructed (woven versus tufted) and is often the hallmark of more expensive goods. There are two types of machine-woven carpets - Axminster and Wilton. Most often refers to rugs. 

Fiber

Fiber is the building block of carpet. Almost all carpet is made from synthetic yarns although natural fibers are making a strong comeback. 
 
Nylon - The most popular choice is nylon. It's tough, holds color well, resists dirt, can be treated against staining and wears exceptionally well. It's also soft and warm. 
 
Polypropylene (Olefin) - Also a synthetic, polypropylene is generally a less expensive fiber that does not wear as well as nylon but it has one thing that makes it an ideal carpet fiber - it is extremely stain resistant. Since most polypropylene is solution dyed during the manufacturing process, color is an inherent part of the fiber. Think of polypropylene fiber as a carrot, the color runs right through it, versus nylon which is like a radish, color on the outside of the fiber, not inside. 
 
Polyester - Known for its extremely soft hand, polyester is perfect for less trafficked areas of the home. Its natural stain- and fade-resistance make it easy to clean and maintain. However, it is not as durable as either polypropylene or nylon. 
 
Wool - This natural fiber has been used in the construction of carpet for centuries - and for good reason. It is soft, warm and comfortable, plus it's easy to clean. Still, because of its higher price, wool is generally limited to upper end goods. 
 
Cotton - Some mills offer cotton carpet but this is usually relegated to area rugs and bath rugs and mats. The great advantage of cotton is its wonderful feel. 

What kind of carpet should you choose?

Carpets made of nylon and polypropylene can go anywhere in the house as far as style is concerned. So whether you buy a polypropylene berber style or a more formal look in nylon, you can be confident it will perform. In fact, these are the most popular choices and the two best performing fibers with nylon taking the lead. 
 
Polyester does have great softness but is less likely to hold up in high traffic areas. You might want to consider polyester for your bedrooms because of it soft, plush feel and because of reduced traffic in these areas. 
 
For sheer luxury and cache, you can't beat wool. While it is the priciest of carpet options, you'll see a wide variety of gorgeous looks and fashions in wool to fit any décor. Plus wool's natural qualities ensure that you'll be satisfied with how it looks and wears for years to come. 

How to choose?

What you choose depends on what you need.  
 
When thinking fashion, consider the following: What are your colors? What's your look - modern, traditional, contemporary? How big is the room? Does it get a lot of light?  
 
Other factors are: Who will be using the room? Got kids? Pets? Big yard leading right into your new carpet? Or is it in a room away from entrances? Do you want a soft, comfortable floor you can sit on in front of a fireplace, or when the kids are playing video games? Do you hate footprints and tracking but love big family get togethers? If it's your bedroom, how do you want it to feel the first thing in the morning when your bare feet touch that plush carpet?  
 
Be sure to tell your flooring sales professional so she can guide you to the right options. 
 
One thing is for sure, especially if it's for your home, get the best quality carpet you can afford that's appropriate for the application. It's an investment in your home that's worth making. Most carpet features performance rating guidelines that are based on a 5-point scale; the higher the score, the better.  
 
A lot depends on the application. While a plush velvet may be the right choice for your living room, you're not likely to put it in the basement. At the same time, a solid nylon berber in the busy family room will outperform a polypropylene or blended carpet.  
 
The single most important factor though may be simply this - that you love the way it makes your home look and feel. 

Care and maintenance

Today's carpet fibers are designed to hide soil and reflect light, and they have the ability to resist soiling and stains, but this does not mean that carpet doesn't require regular care. 
 
The problem with dirt and dry soil is that it abrades carpet fibers and cause light to reflect differently, giving it a dull appearance. That's why removing loose soil while it remains on the surface is important so that it is not worked into the carpet pile by foot traffic.  
 
How often you vacuum depends on how much traffic the carpet gets. However, it is recommended that under normal use, a carpet should be vacuumed once to twice a week, more often for high traffic areas. 
 
For maximum effectiveness, use a vacuum cleaner that has adjustable and rotating brushes that are able to loosen ground-in soil, and a strong enough airflow to penetrate to the backing, extracting all particles. The vacuum cleaner also should have an enclosed, high filtration bag that limits particles from re-circulating into the air. 
 
Have a professional deep clean your rug every year to remove soil build-up. Several cleaning methods will work, but to prevent rapid re-soiling of your rug, it is important to completely remove any cleaning agents. Ask your retailer about steam cleaning and other methods that are in compliance with the manufacturer's recommended cleaning methods to prevent warranty invalidation and damage. Many offer these services as well. 
 
As with any fabric, carpet is an easy target for household spills and soiling. When these occur, treat all spills and stains immediately. The longer it sits, the harder it will be to remove. 

CARPET CUSHION

Carpet cushion, or pad, not only extends the life of your carpet, it brings out the best in it. Adding to carpet's already many benefits, cushion provides increased wear resistance, longer appearance retention, enhanced thermal insulation and noise reduction, and even make a carpet seem more luxurious and comfortable. 
 
Cushion comes in several basic forms: 
Prime - polyurethane foam like what you might find in furniture, only firmer. 
Bonded - also made of polyurethane foam but bits and pieces that are rebounded into one sheet. 
Rubber - offered in waffled and flat constructions, rubber pad provides a luxurious feel in lower traffic areas and firm support in high traffic installations. 
Natural fibers - Jute and other natural fibers were once used as carpet backing. 
 
Carpet cushion is sold separately; your carpet dealer will help you make the right selection. 

SPECIALTY ITEMS

Stair rods - Used to create a distinctly formal look, stair rods come in classic styles and really lend a dramatic touch to staircases. There's also the safety factor in that stair rods prevent the carpet from slipping.  
Floor Vents - With central air and heating systems that come up through the floor, no flooring job is complete without floor vents and registers. While these specialty products can be somewhat expensive, the look of a fully finished floor can be quite dramatic. 
Runners - These narrow carpets (often 3 feet wide) are perfect for hallways and staircases. They also come in a variety of styles and often are made to coordinate with existing carpet styles and patterns. 
Transitions and moldings - These are the pieces that bridge one type of flooring to another. Available in virtually every flooring style you can think of, transitions and moldings put a finishing touch on your floor. 

What to expect on the big day

Before installation: 
* Complete other remodeling projects intended in the room, such as painting and wallpapering. Also, vacuum the old carpet to avoid the possibility of airborne dust and dirt.  
* When you have carpet professionally installed, most often that includes moving the furniture in the room. However, any delicate or expensive items you might want to consider moving yourself. 
* Your carpet installation crew will inspect the carpet either on site or before arriving at your home.  
 
According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, an association of carpet mills, for a proper installation, carpet must be power-stretched to minimize wrinkling and rippling, and seam edges must be sealed with appropriate adhesive to prevent delamination and edge ravel. 
 
During installation: 
* Placement of seams is important. Keep them in less visible areas. 
* Be sure to maintain an adequate supply of fresh air during and after the installation. Open windows and doors, use an exhaust fan or operate the fan of your heating or air conditioning system. 
* Thick carpet may prevent doors from swinging, and, if a door does not clear, you may have to arrange to have your carpet or door trimmed. 
 
After installation: 
* Vacuum carpet to remove loose fibers. 
* Ventilate the area for 48 to 72 hours. However, if you are unusually sensitive to odors or are allergy-prone, you may want to avoid the installation area during this period.