A Carpet to Match Your Lifestyle
Consider both the aesthetic and technical aspects when you are shopping for a
carpet. Keep in mind that carpets come in virtually thousands of colors and
styles each year so it can be a pretty daunting task to find the perfect carpet
that matches your needs.
Because carpets come in a variety of colors, styles, designs and textures, they
can easily be used in basically any kind of interior design. Whether you are
after a formal or casual look for a room, there is a carpet with the texture,
color and style to do just what you want. Not only that, carpets bring
continuity to a room's overall design.
One of the things you need to consider when you are shopping for carpet is how
much foot traffic you expect the carpet to receive. Are you planning on
installing the carpet on an area that is heavily used, where people come and go
frequently? If so, the carpet you choose must be constructed and designed for
heavy use.
Carpets are commonly made of nylon, polyester and olefin fibers. These fibers
each have qualities that make them suitable and appropriate for specific uses.
For instance, if you are after a carpet for a high traffic area in your home, go
with a carpet made of nylon that has a tight low pile construction. Nylon is an
expensive fiber but it is high quality fiber. You can expect a nylon carpet to
be resilient and soft. It can withstand heavy foot traffic.
Cheaper than nylon, polyester is a type of fiber that is highly resistant to
stains. This makes carpet made of polyester the perfect choice for bedrooms and
dining rooms. Polyester carpet is ideal for rooms that receive a moderate amount
of traffic.
The third type of fiber, olefin, is similar to polyester in that it is also
highly resistant to stain. Stains on olefin carpeting can be easily cleaned with
water and bleach solution without affecting the color of the carpet. In
addition, olefin is also highly resistant to fading, mildew and mold, thus this
type of carpeting is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. However, olefin
fiber can wear out easily, which is why it is suggested that this type of
carpeting be considered only if the olefin carpet has a berber construction.
Carpets have either plush or berber construction. Carpets with berber
construction have continuous level loops. Plush carpets, on the other hand, are
made of sheared loops, resulting to strands that are upright. Carpets with
berber construction, because of how they were made, do not easily crush. This
makes these carpets harder to sit on or lay on. In addition, these carpets are
easily damaged by pets with long nails. For areas that receive high foot traffic
(e.g., walk ways, entrance areas and living rooms), carpets with berber
construction are ideal. Plush carpets are ideal for bedrooms as they are soft
and offer good sound and thermal insulation. Avoid installing plush carpeting in
high traffic areas as this type of carpet is easily crushed; it is unable to
withstand high traffic.
Carpets come with a warranty anywhere from 5 to 30 years. The caveat to this
warranty is that carpets must not be installed on stairs. In addition, these
warranties are good only if carpet padding is installed at the same time the
carpet is installed.
|
