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WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK
WHEN SELECTING CARPET & RUGS?


It is all about the different carpet terms that are used to describe different aspects of carpets

Starting from the beginning there are numerous terms and definitions that every carpet buyer should know and understand such as

• Carpet Services
Carpet Accessories
Carpet Cleaners
 
 
F A Q
What does Antimicrobial Carpet mean?
It is a treatment that is added to carpet fibers, such as silver oxides, other organic or chemical agents to inhibit the growth of common bacteria, fungus, mold, mildew and some yeast.

Why is Antistatic important to care about when purchasing carpet? 
Because it is the ability of carpet to disperse the static build up in carpet fibers when there is a low amount of humidity in the air or moisture in the carpet when it is new and the resulting discharge can be painful to the human who discharges the static.

What is an Attached carpet cushion?
Attached cushions are a material that is attached to the back of some carpets and carpet tiles so that padding is not needed, it cushion the carpet, and also add to the stability of the carpet.  It means that carpet installation faster and especially useful for commercial carpet application.

Why is Average Yarn Weight important for the selection of carpet?
It is the amount of pile in an area and means how many oz. per sq yard the carpet is, such as a 50 oz or a 40 oz carpet.  The more oz. per sq.yd. the thicker and softer the carpet is.

What is Backing of Carpet?
The backing of carpet is the fiber and mesh that hold the carpet together for the over all stability of the carpet.  It is one of the most important elements of carpet as it is the main support for the carpet.

What is the difference of Primary backing on carpets?
The primary backing is what the carpet fibers are inserted into when the carpet is made and then has fabric attached for reinforcement and stability of the carpet.

What is a Berber Loop carpet?
A Berber carpet is one that is made of loop carpet fibers and often comes with random specks interwoven in the loops.  It can be heavy thick wool or short light weight nylon as long as it is a looped carpet.  It comes in many colors and patterns. Some tufted carpets are now called Berber colors because of the fact that they have one main color and small flakes of another color in them.

What is binding used for or what’s carpet binding?
Binding is used for making area rugs and is a strip of cloth that matches the color of the carpet being made in to the smaller area or carpet runner rug.  It is sewn around the edge of the carpet.

What is a Broadloom carpet?
A broadloom carpet is any carpet that is made to be used in wall to wall carpeting and usually comes in a 12 foot width. It can be any style of carpet from Texture, Pattern, Saxony, Berber, or any other style.  Most of the time broadloom is used in the commercial carpet industry as apposed to the term modular (carpet tiles).

What does the term BCF mean?
BCF is Bulked Continuous Filament which is when synthetic fiber such as nylon is formed into a textured fiber to get kinked or curled yarn for Frieze or other textured carpets.

Why is construction of carpet important?
Construction of carpet is the most important aspect of carpet manufacturing because this is when simple fibers of nylon or other material are made into carpet of a specific type, color, and texture. This the completed process to make carpet we all use and love to walk on whether is commercial or residential carpet.

Why is a Carpet or Carpet Pad Cushion so important?
A carpet cushion help give support to the caret and makes it feel great under foot.  If you have ever walked on a carpet without padding or with worn out pad you can feel the difference and hear the difference at once.  Most carpet cushion comes in 7/16” thickness because if it is any thicker the padding is likely to wear out the carpet and itself faster.

What is Cut pile Carpet?
Cut pile carpet is made when the carpet is being tufted or made and the carpet loop that comes from the tufting machine are cut at that time.   It is one of the most popular carpets made today.

What are Patterned or cut and looped pile?
Sophisticated patterns and designs formed by mixing cut and loop pile of equal height. Patterned or cut and loop carpet can be one of the most beautiful types of carpet made.  The patterns for the type of carpet are endless in the variations to be made.

What is meant by the term delamination of carpet?
This is when the backing comes loose from the face of the carpet and the carpet becomes very unstable and may start to wrinkle and buckle up in many areas. Delamination in carpet usually happens when there is water or moisture.

Why is density of carpet important?
The higher the density of carpet the better the feel of the carpet and the better the performance of the carpet.  Commercial carpets usually have very high density for wear & tear they have to put up with.

Density is another measurement for carpet that may be difficult to fully comprehend. Density is evaluated in accordance with the Federal Government standard use of Materials Bulletin UM44D (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Department) The specific formula is as follows:

Density = Face Weight X 36 / Pile Thickness

Pile thickness is a specific measurement taken under laboratory conditions after the carpet is subjected to a load. Consumers need to know that density is an industry standard measurement and higher is better. These facts allow them to compare.

What is Carpet Twist means?
Twist is the number of times the fiber is twisted together in a 1-inch length. Twist affects the look of the carpet, plus the long term durability. Higher twist improves resistance to crushing/matting.

Carpet Direct Glue-Down Installation:
An installation method whereby the carpet is glue down and adhered to the floor. Mostly carpet glue downs are use for commercial carpet installation.

Carpet Double Glue-Down Installation:
This method of installation where the carpet cushion is first adhered to the floor with carpet adhesive, and the carpet is then glued to the cushion.

What is Carpet Filament?
A single continuous strand of natural or synthetic fiber.

Fluffing:
Appearance on carpet surface of loose fiber fragments left during manufacture; not a defect, but a characteristic that disappears after carpet use and vacuuming. Sometimes called “fuzzing” or “Shedding.”

What is Frieze Caret?
Highly twisted tufts stand up particularly well to traffic. Pronounced “free-zay,” this tightly twisted yarn gives carpet a rough, nubby appearance.

Fuzzing and Fluffing:
A hairy effect on fabric surface caused by wild fibers or slack yarn twist, by fibers slipping out of yarn in either service or wet cleaning. It is corrected by shearing in manufacturing and by the professional cleaner. Carpet of continuous filament yarn is fuzzed by filament snagging and breaking.

Gauge is scale in carpet to measure:
The distance between two needle points expressed in fractions of an inch. Applies to both knitting and tufting.

Hand:
The tactile aesthetic qualities of carpet and textiles, how it feels to the hand.

Heat setting:
The process that sets the twist by heat or steam, enabling yarns to hold their twist over time. Important in cut pile carpet. Most nylon, olefin and polyester cut pile carpets are heat-set.

What is Pile Crushing or Matting in Carpet?
Pile Crushing or Matting may be caused by heavy traffic or excessive soiling.  It can be reduced by maintaining the carpet with a “beater-bar” type vacuum cleaner. Using small rugs and rearranging furniture on a regular basis can also help to prevent this condition.

Pilling:
A condition of the carpet face in which fibers from different tufts become entangled with one another, forming hard masses of fibers and tangled tufts. Pills may be cut off with scissors.

Pilling or small balls of fiber can appear, depending on the type of carpet fiber and traffic. Clips off the pills; but if it covers a large area, call professions.
 
Plush Carpet:
Luxuriously smooth-textured carpet surface in which individual tufts are only minimally visible and the overall visual effect is that of a single level of yarn ends. This finish is normally achieved only on cut-pile carpet produced from non-heat-set single spun yarns by brushing and heating. Sometimes called “velvet-plush”.

What is Power Stretching in Carpet?
A carpet installation tool used to stretch carpet for installation with a tackless strip. According to industry standards, residential carpet, installed over cushion with a tackless strip

What is Shedding Carpet?
Shedding occurs when loose fibers are removed by vacuuming – normal, and subsides within a short time.

What is Sprouting in Carpet?
Sprouting is the term used when small tufts of cut pile carpet extend beyond the surface – can be easily removed by clipping the extended yarns with scissors. Never pull the yarns.

What is Pulled Yarn?
Pulled yarn may occur occasionally along the walls or at the seams, if seam sealing was incorrectly applied during carpet installation. Do not pull the yarns. Call your retailer of the installer.

What’s Depressions in Carpet?
Depressions may be formed by heavy objects pressing down on the face fiber. Those depressions may be recovered by gently rubbing the affected area with the edge of a coin or lifting upwards on the tufts while using a steam iron. Do not touch the steam iron to the carpet or hold the steam iron too close to the carpet. Inferior quality cushion can be permanently compressed by heavy objects.

Pile Reversal (Shading, Water Marking)
Pile Reversal are terms used to describe a change in the surface appearance of carpet due to localized in the orientation of the pile yarns. It is often encountered in higher quality cut pile carpet and is not considered a manufacturing defect.

Buckling and Wrinkling
Buckling and Wrinkling occur when carpet has not been properly stretched during installation. Power stretching should be required for installation of wall-to-wall carpet.

Burns
Any burn should be taken care of immediately. First, snip off the damaged fibers. Then use a soap less cleaner and sponge with water. If the damage is extensive, see a professional about the carpet.

Carpet Odor
Some new carpet and carpet cushions may have a noticeable odor. Such as odors usually disappear within a few days with ventilating and frequent vacuuming.

Crushing
Furniture and traffic may crush a carpet’s pile. Frequent vacuuming in high traffic areas and glides under heavy furniture can help the problem. Rotating the furniture to change traffic patterns can also help minimize changes in appearance.

Pilling
Pilling or small balls of fiber can appear, depending on the type of carpet fiber and traffic. Clip off the pills; but if it covers a large area, call a professional.

Rippling
In well-to-well carpeting, high heat and humidity may cause rippling. If the carpet remains rippled during normal humidity, have a professional re-stretch the carpet with a power stretcher, not with a knee-kicker.

Shading
Shading is a common characteristic of fine, cut pile carpets. Household traffic causes the pile to assume different angles. As result, the carpet appears darker or lighter in such areas. Frequent and through vacuuming will help this condition.

What is Fading on Carpet? & How to prevent Fading?

Carpets color is changes over a period of time. This change in color is very gradual and is due to oxidation through exposure to the open air with in the home. Areas exposed to sunlight are subject to more dramatic color change due to damage caused by ultraviolet rays. It is recommended that you take steps to protect these areas during high sunlight exposure hours. This many be done by utilizing draperies or other windows coverings. If tinted windows are desired, they should be tinted by a reputable company; but tinting alone is not a substitute for window coverings.
       
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