Celebrating 35 years of covering your floors!

Judging Carpet Construction and Durability

Here are some general guidelines to help you determine the durability of a carpet and how well it will keep its original good looks.  Durability depends on several important factors: type of fiber, face weight, and yarn twist.  Choosing a carpet based on any one of these factors can be misleading.  It is important to select the right balance of all three.  Another important factor in determining the life of the carpet is underpad.

Fiber Type

Nylon is traditionally the most commonly used fiber in carpeting.  It is the strongest, most resilient fiber, and has outstanding resistance to abrasion.  However, nylon is an open-cell fiber, meaning it easily absorbs spills, and so it must be treated for stain protection.

Polyester is a closed-cell fiber, so it is naturally and permanently stain resistant.  Today's polyester is more durable than ever before, and is a cost-efficient alternative to nylon.  Most polyesters are manufactured from 100% recycled PET containers, helping to keep millions of pounds of these containers out of our landfills yearly.

Olefin (polypropylene), like polyester, is naturally and permanently stain resistant.  It offers a wool-like appearance, which is often used for berber and commercial carpets.  Olefin is also fade and moisture resistant.

Wool is a natural fiber that presents a beautiful appearance and luxurious feel.  However, it is not as resilient as man-made fibers, it stains easily, is allergenic, and is much more expensive than synthetic fibers.

Face Weight

Face weight is the number of ounces of fiber per square yard of carpeting.  Be cautious when selecting a carpet based on its weight alone.  Heavier does not necessarily mean better.  The style of the carpet influences the face weight, so this component serves as an accurate indicator only when comparing two or more carpets of the same style.  All other things being equal, the higher the face weight, the higher the quality of the carpet.

Yarn Twist

All carpet fibers are twisted together to increase the strength of the fibers.  Most residential carpets have between 4 and 8 turns per inch.  The higher the number of turns, the stronger the carpet will be.  Longer piles with high twist tend to perform better over extended periods of time.

Underpad

The cushion under your carpet is one of the most important components of floorcovering.  It is the base that helps the carpet retain its texture and appearance.  An underpad acts as a shock absorber to protect your carpet, much like the cushioned heel of a good running shoe.  Not only will it make for a softer step, but it will also extend the life of your investment.

Underpad is sold by its thickness and density.  A pad that is too soft will adversely affect the performance of the carpet.  We recommend using an 8 lb, 10mm pad for most residential applications.

Carpet "Wear"

Most people call a carpet "worn out" when it loses its appearance.  Typically, this happens due to the effects of matting, crushing and staining, rather than what the carpet manufacturers define as "wear".

Carpet wear is the loss of fibers from the pile surface.  Most carpets today carry wear warranties and do not easily wear out.

Matting is the entanglement of fibers and tufts of the yarn tips.  This may be caused by spills that were not thoroughly cleaned, leaving residue behind.

Crushing is the compaction of the pile thickness due to foot traffic.