Learn About Choosing Flooring Carpets

Learn how to choose flooring carpet by asking important questions that will help you make an informed choice. Reasons for buying carpet include adding style to a room, providing warmth and cutting down on noise.

Consider carpet quality and design construction - texture, color, depth of pile, and pattern all add to the interest of the room. Cost and value for the dollar are also important.

Helpful definitions when purchasing flooring carpets:

*plush carpets have cut pile made from straight, untwisted yarn

*frieze carpets are made from highly twisted yarn tufts excellent for high traffic areas

*the most popular flooring carpet is loop construction. Its durability comes from the type of fibre, density of tufts, and amount of twist in the yarn.

*saxony carpets are made from densely packed yarn tufts forming a smooth surface.

*face weight - the number of ounces of fibre per square yard

*twist level - higher twist helps resist crushing and matting

*density - improves comfort

*durability - higher ratings indicate better performance

*tuft bind measures the strength of the yarn to the backing.

Another consideration is where different carpet styles can best be used, how easily footprints and vacuum marks show and how trouble-free it is to clean and maintain.