A carpet
A carpet is a floor decoration commonly found not only in our homes but also in offices or even in outside areas (see commercial carpet). A carpet can come in many different styles, shapes, structures, and made out of many different materials. When choosing a carpet for your home, you should be equipped with at least basic information about carpet fiber materials.
What makes up a carpet
A carpet consists of an upper layer attached to a carpet backing. The upper layer of a carpet that we walk on is called a "carpet pile". The carpet pile can be made from natural materials (wool, rayon, cotton, silk) or from synthetic materials (nylon, polypropylene, etc.). See the carpet fiber page for more details about carpet fiber materials. The carpet backing consists of carpet warp and carpet weft (see a picture on this page Difference between a handmade and a machine-made rug).The pile can be woven, tufted, needlefelt, etc. There are quite a few carpet types available. Most widely available carpets have either a tufted or a broadloom woven pile. A tufted pile (see the picture to the left) is created by injecting the tuft into the carpet backing. A woven pile (see the picture below) is made in a way that is similar to woven clothes. Some carpets are knotted (that would be the case of for example Persian carpet). A carpet is usually installed on carpet padding.
Tips for choosing a carpet
With so many carpeting materials and carpet construction technologies, choosing a carpet for your home can be a daunting prospect. Different fibers and constructions determine properties such as carpet's:
- durability,
- colorfastness,
- abrasion,
- look and feel,
- stain resistance,
- sound absorption,
- warmth,
- overall comfort,
- price (see carpet manufacturers).
Carpet durability
The length of time a carpet will last depends mostly on the following factors:- carpet pile,
- carpet fiber,
- weight of fiber,
- density of pile (see for example saxony carpet),
- special treatment (see for example Scotchgard at Mohawk carpet).