What To
Look For When Picking Out A Carpet
By Lee Dobbins
Carpets are available in all styles and colors, but when
shopping for carpeting, you should try to buy the best quality carpet for the
money. Even if you are on a tight budget, don’t skimp on your carpeting or your
carpet pad as quality products will last longer, wear better and even save you
money in the long run!
Most modern carpets are made from either nylon, polyester or olefin. The nylon
is the strongest and also the most widely used. While nylon will never actually
wear down to the treads, it can fade and get scrubby looking. Buying the proper
padding for your carpet and having it treated with a stain resistant treatment
will help it to last longer.
So how do you tell if a rug is of good quality?
One easy test is to look at the density of the rug. This means the thickness and
closeness of the pile or each strand of fiber. The closer the fibers, the better
the quality. Stick your finger into the rug or bend it to see if you can feel or
see the mesh – the less you can feel or see, the better the rug! Another factor
in a quality rug is the twist level or the number of twists in 1 inch length of
fiber. The more twists the better.
Where the density of the pile affects how it will wear, the cut of the pile
affects in how it looks. A plush cut carpet looks like a field of velvet with
very even color and is great for a formal look. A Saxony cut has irregular cuts
of pile, and is great for an everyday look. Frieze is a nubby twisted pile, less
formal looking but will wear well.
When buying carpet, don’t ignore the carpet pad. In addition to going for the
best quality carpet you can afford, you should also buy the best quality pad.
The padding will cut down on noise and act as a cushion so it is as important as
the carpet. Make sure, however that you get the right pad for the type of carpet
you are buying as thicker is not always better.
About the Author: Lee Dobbins is contributing writer at
http://www.flooring-info-online.com where you can find out more about how to
choose flooring for your home. |
