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What To Consider When Selecting New Carpeting

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Need to select new carpeting for your home, but feeling a bit confused about all your options? Here are some things to consider as you start to narrow in on your selection for new carpeting.

Know The Differences Between Carpet Fibers

The material that the carpet is made out of is going to determine the performance of the carpeting above all other properties. Each type of carpet fiber is easy to compare if you focus on durability, stain resistance, and price. 

Nylon is a very popular material because it is very durable, but it doesn't have the same stain resistance as other carpet fibers. This is why there are coatings that are put on nylon carpet fibers that prevent the material from staining. Nylon is also a more expensive raw material, which can cause it to cost more than other carpet fibers.

Polyester is the opposite of nylon in many ways. It is not very durable, but it is going to have natural stain resistance. This can be great if you have a home with kids or pets that tend to make a mess on your carpeting. Polyester is a cheaper raw material, so it means you can afford heavier carpeting than you'll find with nylon.

Know What The Ounce Weight Means

You'll see that carpeting is measured in ounce weight but likely do not know what it means. It is a way to measure how much yarn is used for a square yard of carpeting. While ounce weight can help you determine which type of carpeting is more durable when comparing similar materials, it is not always true when you compare different carpet fibers. For example, a nylon carpeting with a lower ounce weight can be more durable than a higher ounce weight polyester. 

Know What The Construction Type Means

The way that the carpeting is constructed can also make a big difference in the quality of the carpeting. Every type of carpeting has fibers that are twisted around each other, but the differences are with how the fibers are attached to the carpet backing.

Cut pile carpeting has all of the fibers sticking up at a set length so that they are all uniform. Loop pile carpeting has carpet fibers that are looped over in an arch, so you are feeling the side of the twisted strands rather than a cut end of the carpet fiber. There is also cut and loop construction, which uses a combination of cut pile and loop pile fibers. You may also see patterned loop construction, which combines large and small loop pile strands to create a pattern. 

Reach out to a carpet installer for more information.


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