Carpeting the floor of your house serves to enhance the decor thereby adding to the beauty of the rooms. It also has certain practical uses. For example in places where cold conditions prevail for a long time of the year, carpeting helps to increase the warmth inside the house. In fact by itself undergoing wear and tear, it helps to protect the floor of the house from getting damage.
But there are certain practical things that one needs to look into before making the final purchase. They are:
- Carpet fibres: There are many different types of fibres which go to make carpets of varying textures. The different types of carpet fibres are:
--> Nylon: By far the most popular and versatile choice for manufacturing carpets, nylon carpets:
-> Last for a longer time,
-> Are resilient in their use and
-> Are very easy to maintain.
They are an absolute must for:
-> Those homes which have kids and pets running around and
-> Areas which have to experience a lot of traffic.
There are two types of nylon carpets available. They are:
-> The branded variety wherein the nylon used is of a very superior quality and is hence slightly expensive and
-> The unbranded variety which is quite affordable as the quality of nylon used is relatively of a lower quality.
--> Triexta: This is a new fibre which is partly derived from corn starch. Its use in carpet-making is very recent and with further development, it is expected to match the durability of nylon. This resilient fibre is said to have excellent anti-staining properties which means that they do not need to be treated chemically with stain protectors ever. This quality makes Triexta an excellent choice for homes having either small kids or pets or both.
--> Polyester or PET: This fibre is difficult to maintain as it sheds easily and hence does not last long. But its resistance to developing stains and soft, luxurious underfoot feel makes for a nice and cushy choice. It is, thus, an ideal choice for both areas with low traffic like bedrooms and homes without kids and pets. It is also available in dark shades which help to increase the vibrancy of the room where it is used.
--> Olefin or Polypropylene: This fibre ranks high for its attractive looks, its inability to fade easily and its inexpensiveness. What it lacks is resilience. This fibre also has other qualities which make it resistant to stains, mildew and even static. It is, thus, the perfect choice for areas which witness a clean high-traffic like the family room or the play areas.
- Carpet styles: They texture of weaving of a carpet clearly distinguish the carpet into five different styles. They are Saxony, textured cut pile, Frieze, Sculptured or the cut and loop style and the looped or the Berber style. While Frieze and textured cut-pile carpet styles are good for areas witnessing heavy traffic, Saxony is rather delicate and prone to showing marks like footprints etc. The sculptured style helps to hide dirt while the looped or Berber style is well known for its elegant appearance but is harder to clean.
- Carpet quality: The quality of the carpet also defines its use. If the carpet is of a poor quality, it does not give value for money. Hence it is best to check the face weight which should be a minimum of 34Oz, the tuft twist which should be 5 or higher and the density rating of the carpet which should be 2000 or more.
Buying a carpet keeping in mind the above criteria will enable you to get value for money and enable you to select a carpet which will last long, effectively serve its purpose and also make your house the connoisseur of all eyes.
0 Comments