While many people probably know something about carpet, it is a much deeper topic than most realize. There is a lot of information involved, and if you are thinking about installing new carpet, you need to consider it all. For example, are you going to be purchasing carpet for your home, or office? The two locations have very different requirements, which might put you in a bind. Unlike with hardwoods, however, you won’t have to choose from dozens of different materials before moving on to other choices, like the size of the plank and if you want to add a finish. No, with carpeting you will spend your time choosing what kind of fabric it is to be made out of before moving on to the fun part: the colors and design. The professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey are happy to help every step of the way, but the main thing we offer is carpet installation. It is something that is easy in practice but has the potential to go poorly very quickly. With that in mind, we put together this primer so you can focus your energies on picking the right carpet, and allow us to worry about everything else.
Built to Last
Unless you are the kind of person who switches things up on a regular basis, you probably want something that is going to last for quite a while. Carpet can be very durable, or it can last for a small amount of time before it needs to get switched out. It really depends on a couple of factors that all play into your decision. The first and foremost is the fiber. Most carpet, unless someone specifically wants something natural, such as wool, is made of nylon. Nylon is a pretty durable material in its own right, but there is a variant called nylon 6,6 which is particularly durable, and usually comes with a bit of extra stain and soil protection. It is a better choice than most of the other fibers, such as polyester, wool, or polypropylene. When it comes to durability, you also want to look at the twist, which is how the fibers are spun into yarn and then twisted into the carpet itself, as a more tightly wound carpet will resist damage and stay the same longer. Density is also important. In this case, density refers to how close each tuft of fiber is to one another. A dense carpet also helps resist damage, and can be discovered by trying to push through to the backing.
All About Style
From there, you just need to pick out the style of the carpet. Do you want something that is not going to trip you up when walking across it, or get animal claws tangled in it? Then you would be looking at a cut pile carpet, which has less loops than its cousin, and due to its lower profile and less cushioning, is usually used in offices and less in homes. On the flip side, loop pile carpeting does have a greater resistance to stains, and is usually a cheaper option. Of course, most types of carpeting lie somewhere in the middle between these two extremes, known as cut and loop pile, and offer a variety of texture and color options.
Picking the right carpet can be tough, since it does involve a bit of knowledge about the creation process, which can be dry reading at times. Instead of trying to get through all that, the best option is probably to talk to the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey. We know all about carpeting, and any other type of flooring you might want installed.