How to Buy Carpet
This section covers how to buy carpet, perhaps one
of the most difficult purchases because there are so many choices in a
wide price range. A good rule of thumb, the higher the numbers the better
the carpet. So, always try to buy the best carpet you can afford.
Construction
Tufted carpet generally falls into one of the
following construction types. Every carpet style is a simple variation of
one of these constructions.
- Cut Pile:
- Loops have been cut to create individual,
upstanding tips. Suitable for virtually any area of the home.
- Loop Pile:
- The loops themselves actually form the surface of
the carpet. Very durable and well-suited to high traffic areas.
- Cut and Loop Pile:
- Combination of cut and loop pile in various
designs. Some multi-color cut and loop patterns are excellent at hiding
soil.
Fibers
- Nylon:
- Durable and resilient, nylon is the most commonly
used carpet fiber. It resists soil and can easily be treated for added
soil and stain resistance.
- Polyester:
- Polyester offers exceptional softness and color
clarity. It resists staining and fading, and it's less expensive than
nylon.
- Polypropylene (Olefin):
- Growing in popularity, polypropylene is extremely
resistant to stains, fading and moisture. Another benefit, its lower
price.
- Wool:
- Luxurious in its natural beauty, wool fiber is
more expensive compared to the synthetic fibers. It provides only
moderate resistance to soil and staining.
- Face Weight:
- Face weight is the number of ounces of fiber in a
square yard of carpet. All other things being equal, the higher the face
weight of a carpet the better.
- Fiber Density:
- Density is how tightly carpet fiber or yarn is
packed together and bound into the carpet backing. Higher density
affects the carpet's appearance and provides greater comfort and luxury
underfoot.
- Twist/Tuft Bind:
- For Cut Pile: Twist is the number of times fiber
strands are twisted together in a one-inch length of carpet yarn. Twist
affects the texture and look of cut pile carpet. In general, the tighter
the twist the more durable the carpet.
For Loop Pile: Tuft bind is the relative strength of the attachment of
the yarn loops to the backing of the carpet. The higher the number the
better.
- A Note About Padding:
- A good carpet pad will add to your carpet's life
and will greatly improve the comfort of walking on your carpet. Thin,
firm pads generally perform better than thick, soft pads.
How To Figure Square Yardage
(Simple Formula)
Length (in feet ) x width (in feet) divided by 9 =
square yards
Most carpets come in 12' widths; some are available
in 15' widths. If your room is larger, you may require more carpet to
cover areas that will be matched and seamed together. It's a good idea to
always have the installer double check the measurements prior to
purchasing the carpet.
Be sure to measure from the furthest point of the
room, if your planning on carpeting your closets etc, you need to measure
from the furthest point inside the closet to the furthest point opposite
that closet, do the same for north and south then east to west of the room
requiring flooring.
If you are measuring for tile the same would apply
except after you have figured Length (in feet) x width (in feet) do not
divide by 9. This number is the total square footage needed.
Carpet, Vinyl and other types of wall base will be
measured a bit differently. As always to be safe we recommend having a
professional installer measure your area for proper ordering.
*Note that certain
floor covering materials may require a certain amount over the actual
measured area to be needed. Ceramic, Resilient Tile and wood flooring
which may require allot of cuts, custom shapes or designs and carpets
designed with a pattern are inclusive of such ordering needs. Also
Resilient Tile and V.C.T. usually are sold in boxes of 45 Sq. Ft. per box,
thus having extra tiles leftover. This is a good thing because scuffed and
or severely damaged tiles can be removed and replaced.
Many customers wanting to install their own product
can find that spending $25 to have it measured for them by a professional
will save them more than time and money. Also having a professional
perform the installation of your floor covering will ensure that the
manufacture of such product will honor any intended warranties.
Improper installations are the number one cause of
manufacture warranties not being honored.
Once the product is ordered it is cut to the
measurement you give. If too much product is ordered there is possibly
that spare room or closet you may want to carpet also, however if not
enough material is ordered getting the remainder needed to complete the
job may mean getting a piece that is of a different dye lot (not matching
color) and unnecessary seems in areas you may not have planned for. Seems
when required can be a nuisance of sorts, if at all possible you never
want to place a seem in a high trafficked area. Many people want to save
the extra money it may cost to ensure your flooring
If you have any
questions that was not answered for you here, you are welcome to call us.
Questions
& Comments Always Free
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