Carpet terms to know before you buy


When buying carpet, you should educate yourself on the different styles and appropriate uses so you choose the best flooring for your home. Here are carpet terms you should know before you purchase carpeting for your home. Always buy carpet from a licensed?carpet dealer?for the best quality and price.


Pile
The pile of a carpet is the way it's presented when the material is cut. A loop pile is a carpet that does not have any loose ends. A cut and loop pile is a type of carpeting style where carpet manufacturers place both severed and intact loops in carpeting to create a dimensional design. Other pile-related terms to know include the following.

Pile Weight
The pile weight is how much the material weighs per square yard. Heavier piles may mean thicker-looking carpeting.

Pile Height
Pile height is how long the carpet's pile cut or loops are. The larger the pile height, the longer the material sets from the base of the carpeting.

Pile Crush
Pile crushing refers to the carpet indentations from normal traffic or heavy use. The more resistant a pile crush carpeting has, the more the carpeting will be able to restore its natural shape after people walk on the carpet or press it under furniture.


Glue Down
If a carpet is a glue down style, this means you shouldn't use the carpeting with padding. Many commercial or heavy-use carpets ? such as outdoor/indoor carpets ? glue down directly to the floor and don't work well with padding.
Composition
The composition of carpeting is what materials largely make up the flooring piece. The following are popular materials used in carpeting. If a carpet has blended composition, this means more than one type of material is in the flooring's creation.

Wool
This is common in carpeting because the material is generally stain-resistant and easy to dye. Wool is an ideal choice of carpet for busy homes. If you are on a budget, consider synthetic wool.

Chenille
Chenille is a type of yarn popular for its appearance. Chenille is a combination of rayon, cotton, and other carpeting materials. The way chenille threads in loops or loose tufts allows the carpet to have a dimensional, uneven texture.

Cotton
A common natural material used in many fabrics, cotton is also in carpets. Soft and easy to clean, cotton is a versatile carpeting option.

Polyester
A man-made material that wears well and is hypo-allergenic, polyester is best for rooms that don't see a lot of regular traffic, such as a guest room or home library.


Swatch/Sample
A swatch or a sample is a small piece of carpeting you can purchase to examine colors, textures, and material composition. Order swatches of brands and styles of carpet you like from your flooring dealer.


Binding
Most common in carpet rugs or carpets that don't reach the wall, binding is the process of securing the ends of carpets with a decorative design or weave so the material does not fray. Different types of bindings exist to consider when choosing carpeting in the form of hallway runners or large area bordered carpets.


Backing
Some carpets have a special backing, including foam and rubber backing, to make the flooring choice more comfortable when walking on. Other styles require padding underneath the carpeting to make the flooring most durable.

If you have special requirements for flooring, such as hypoallergenic or pet-friendly fiber construction, let your carpeting dealer know. Your carpet dealer is familiar with all brands and styles of carpet so they will be able to select the best carpeting for your needs. Trust our experts at Carpet Mart for your carpet and padding shopping experience today.