Carpet Types

Today's carpet manufacturers are combining softer fibers, better stain resistance with backings that block odors, spills and more! These types of features are built into the better-quality carpets offered by the leading carpet manufacturers.

Most carpet today is tufted, rather than woven. The tufting process is similar to using a large sewing machine that is about 13 feet wide with 100's of needles that sew the yarn into a synthetic backing. The majority of carpets sold today are made from nylon fibers twisted into yarns and then tufted into carpet.

Carpet is basically constructed in two types of piles: loop pile or cut pile . Patterned carpet is a combination of both loop and cut yarns or variations of loops set to different pile heights.

How long a carpet will retain it's like new texture and appearance is based on the type of fiber, how tight the yarns are twisted and heatset, and the pile density. (Obviously, not cleaning your carpets regularly, or improper cleaning methods will effect the appearance as well.) Also, how close tufts are to one another will effect the durability of the carpet. Below is a brief overview of the most common carpet construction types sold in flooring stores in the United States.

Special Note About Berber Carpets: Berber carpets are big bulky, loops of yarn that are either produced in a level loop, or multi-level loop carpet construction. they are usually made from olefin or wool yarns and are ideal for active areas of the home, such as family rooms. Berber carpets are also available in a cut pile construction as well as loop pile.