Pile may sound that an extremely fancy term, but it just refers to the length of the fibers that make up your carpet. There are three standard pile lengths: low, medium, and high. Low pile stands less than a ¼-inch high and it has tight loops.
What is the best pile height for carpeting?
If you want your carpet to resist matting and crushing of the pile, I recommend a Carpet Pile Height of 3/4" or less. On stairs, I recommend a Carpet Pile Height of 1/2" or less and a Carpet Padding Thickness of 7/16" or less and a Pile Density Rating of at least 8-pounds.
What does pile carpet mean?
Carpet pile refers to the way each fiber is arranged on your carpet. This has perhaps the largest impact on how different types of carpet look and perform. We know: that doesn’t make much sense, but follow us here. Loop pile carpets are made of fibers that are arranged in (you guessed it) loops —meaning they’re attached to the backing twice.
What is the difference between low pile and medium pile carpet?
Medium-Pile Carpet. Medium-pile carpet sits right between low and high piles, offering a balance of options. Think of it as a happy medium with perks of both types. You'll notice this type of carpet is softer than low-pile carpet, and it's easier to vacuum with less dirt getting trapped in it than high-pile carpet.
What is cut and loop pile carpet?
Both cut and looped fibers are combined in order to produce a Cut and Loop pile carpet. With a medium density, it provides a vast array of textures and/or sculptured effects available in solid and colored patterns.
What is a good carpet pile height?
If the pile is very thick it can flatten or even matt together with continuous use and is therefore unsuitable for high-traffic areas. The maximum recommended pile height for stairs is around 1/2" (1.2 centimetres) and for most rooms around 3/4" (1.9 centimetres).
What is a good pile weight for carpet?
Pile Weight/Density Most weights nowadays are between 40oz and 70oz. The heavier the weight/density, the greater the luxury of the carpet pile. You will find that stair and lounge carpets are generally about 50oz, whilst 60oz to 70oz carpets are commonly a more luxurious carpet.
How do I know what pile my carpet is?
The pile height of a carpet is measured using a small ruler or a measuring device going from the top surface of the backing to the top of the pile. Remember While measuring the pile, the backing's surface is not included. The pile is solely the soft surface that rises from the backing of the rug.
What are the 3 basic styles of carpet?
There are three basic styles of carpet – cut pile, looped pile, and cut-loop pile. Find out how flooring companies differentiate between the three and what they recommend for your home or office.
What thickness of carpet is best?
A general rule of thumb for most residential carpet applications is to choose cushion no more than 7/16 inch thick and no less than 1/4 inch with 6 pounds per cubic feet density.
What carpet density is best?
For optimal performance in normal household conditions, a density value of 3,000 or higher is ideal. According to The Carpet and Rug Institute, Inc., extra heavy traffic conditions (such as are found in heavy commercial use) require a minimum density of 5,000.
What are the 6 types of carpeting?
The six types of carpet are textured, plush, frieze, cable, Berber, and cut-and-loop. Each type has its own look and performance conditions.
Is low pile or high pile carpet better?
High pile is known for the cozy home atmosphere it helps create. You don't want your carpet to become flattened over time. Despite its taller loops, high pile carpet is less likely to flatten than low carpet options. You love the luxurious look that full, fluffy carpet offers.
What is the most popular carpet?
What style carpet is most popular? Twisted pile carpet is the most popular style of carpet and comes in a large variety of colors. The yarn has been tightly twisted and the loops are cut to become this style of carpeting.
Which type of carpet pile is the most durable?
Berber carpet/ level loop pile 'I consider the Berber carpet the most durable of all styles. It is more resistant to stains without compromising your budget. Its texture is absorbent to leakages and spills that won't sink to the floors. However, it could be a little tricky to clean depending on its fiber materials.
What type of carpet lasts the longest?
Nylon is the most durable and stain resistant carpet fiber available, when treated with stain protection. It is the fiber of choice for homes with pets and children and for those who entertain a lot. Because of it's durability, nylon carpet is perfect for heavy foot traffic areas like hallways and stairs.
What are the different levels of carpet?
Carpet will typically be classified as low pile carpet, medium pile carpet or high pile carpet. Low pile carpet has short fibers that look and feel flat and dense.
Is heavier weight carpet better?
weights are available.) In these instances, the weight will indicate the quality of the carpet, with the higher weight being the better quality. A higher face weight will usually indicate a higher quality—but only when all other aspects of the carpet are equal.
Is 40 oz carpet good?
Carpet Face Weight and Durability "A higher face weight means more yarn," says Grable, "And more yarn makes for a longer-lasting product." As an example, within one product line the "good-level" carpet has a face weight of 40 oz.; the "best-level" weighs in at 63 oz.
Is 32 oz carpet good?
For high quality carpet, face weight is typically 32 ounces per square yard or higher. A carpet's density is a measure of the weight of the pile yarn corrected for the height of the yarn. A carpet with a low density number risks “uglying out” before it actually wears out.
How do you know if carpet is good quality?
In general, the more dense the carpet the better the quality. Check density by pressing your fingers on the carpet and trying to reach the backing. It will be difficult to reach the backing of a very dense carpet. With the tufts facing outward, bend the carpet into a U shape to see how much of the carpet backing shows.
What is a Carpet Pile?
What is it? A carpet pile is a visible upper layer of the carpet, which may have a different shape and structure. Choosing the right type of carpet is an important aspect of decorating your home. Carpets make the room warm and comfortable, and even thin carpets can add personality to the room. This should be taken into consideration when choosing a carpet for your home.
What is a low pile carpet?
Low Pile Carpet. Low Pile carpets have a height of under 1/4 inch. These carpets have dense fabric loops and short fibers. The short fibers of low-pile carpets are usually dense and flat, making the surface of the carpet smoother. Homeowners buy this type of carpet usually for function, not design.
Why do people put deep pile carpets in their homes?
Homeowners install deep pile carpets in their homes because this kind of carpet is warm and comfortable: high pile carpets are a kind of carpet that can be placed in the room to relax. It is also convenient for you to go barefoot when you are walking around in the living room or bedroom.
Why is high pile carpet so hard to vacuum?
High pile carpets are more difficult to vacuum. They are also not suitable for people with severe allergies, because longer fibers allow more allergens to penetrate. The weight of the furniture is more likely to leave marks on the high pile carpet.
How do Saxon carpets look?
In order to be extremely soft under the feet, the filaments that make up the deep fibers are curled loosely at the root, then cut off at the top and slightly separated. Such carpets have a rough, hairy appearance. The fibers of a velvety Saxon carpet are straight and lie in the same direction, so when you move the pile, the color of the carpet will naturally change from light to dark (and vice versa). Textured Saxon rugs rotate in different directions, reflecting light at different angles, creating a two-tone appearance.
What is fluffy carpet?
The fluffy carpet provides an extra cushion for walking and sitting. The carpet is reminiscent of sitting on the floor and spending time with family. When you look at the interior, you almost immediately notice the carpet. Low-pile carpets tend to fade in comparison. High pile retains heat better than low-pile carpets.
Why is it important to choose the right carpet for a room?
Choosing the right type of carpet is an important aspect of decorating your home. Carpets make the room warm and comfortable, and even thin carpets can add personality to the room. This should be taken into consideration when choosing a carpet for your home.
What Is Carpet Pile Height?
Carpet pile is all of the visible fibers you see on the surface. Pile height, then, is the height or length of those fibers. Carpet is often described as having one of three heights:
What is the height of a carpet pile?
Carpet is often described as one of three heights: Advertisement. Low-pile carpet: under 1/4 inch. Medium-pile carpet: 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.
Why is higher pile carpet good?
It's good for adding warmth, softness and coziness to your space. You also get more texture because the surface is often imperfect and fluffy. Higher-pile carpet adds more of a cushioning effect to your floors, which can be helpful if you have kids.
What are the different types of carpet piles?
Types of Carpet Pile. Carpet comes in two basic types of pile: cut and loop. They both use yarn, which can be made of different types of material, but the way they're finished is different. A cut carpet pile has ends that are cut, while loop carpet fibers remain uncut, creating a looped effect with the yarn. You can also find cut-loop carpets, ...
What is the height of a shag carpet?
High-pile carpet: 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch. Sometimes, carpets are even higher than 3/4 inch and are described as plush. You often see the greater pile height on shag-style carpet. The pile height you choose often depends on the area you're covering and your personal preference.
How long has Philip Schmidt been a carpenter?
Philip Schmidt has devoted his entire career to home improvement. His experience includes six years as a professional carpenter and remodeler followed by 22+ years as a writer and editor of home content. He is author of 22 books and hundreds of articles (and editor of many more of both) covering topics ranging from everyday home repairs to building treehouses to installing solar power systems.
What is cut carpet?
Cut carpet tends to have a softer, denser feel, but it doesn't tend to hold up as well as loop-pile carpet. You can choose from different types of cut carpet, including frieze, shag, Saxony and velvet, each of which vary in the texture and twist in the fibers.
What is cut pile carpet?
A cut pile carpet is manufactured by cutting all of the looped fibers at the top of the bundles. This creates a carpet with yarn bundles that stand straight. To create a luxurious appearance the cut pile is pre-sheared several times. Cut pile carpet, as compared to other styles is the least resistant to crushing.
Which carpet has the highest growth?
The carpet with the highest growth in popularity is the Berber. In an informal area, Berbers limit footprints and vacuum tracks. Berbers have a very high durability because they can have thicker yarns than other level loop pile carpet.
What is the difference between a multi level pile and a level pile?
The difference between Multi-Level Loop pile and Level Loop pile is that with Level Loop Pile all of the loops of yarn are at the same height and with the Multi-Level Loop the heights of the yarn varies. The Multi-Level Loop creates a random texture making it a good choice for high traffic areas. The primary negative of this type of carpet is that the small loops have a tendency to hold more dirt and dust.
What is a level loop pile?
These types of carpets are made by weaving even loops of yarn through both ends of the carpet’s backing. By using higher loops the carpet has a much more luxurious appearance. For easy cleaning a Level Loop carpet utilizing short and densely packed loops is easy to clean as they prevent dirt from filtering into carpet.
What is texture carpet?
Textures are produced with tightly twisted fibers and are set with heat creating a medium durability carpet. Texture carpets have a multi-color appearance that hides any footprints and other tracks. Velvet & Plush: Velvets and Plush carpeting are manufactured with a uniform color and a light twist.
Why is cut and loop carpet so popular?
One of the advantages of the cut and loop carpet is that because of the different levels of yarn the carpet hides dirt, stains and footprints exceptionally well. The carpet is used in both formal and informal areas in the home. The carpet with the highest growth in popularity is the Berber.
How is Saxony carpet made?
In order to manufacture a Saxony carpet, the fibers are twisted tightly, cut and then straightened using heat. A Saxony carpet consists of two or more fibers twisted together to produce a yarn. The soft texture of a Saxony carpet works well in both formal and informal rooms.
What is a high pile carpet?
High pile carpets are carpets with taller (longer) and looser fibers.
What exactly is a high pile (or low pile) carpet or rug?
If you can sink your hand into a carpet, you’ re probably dealing with a medium to high pile. Savor it!
Why might my family prefer a low pile carpet or rug?
Low pile carpets are common because they’re cheaper and easier to maintain than high piles.
What are the pros and cons of low pile carpet?
A low pile rug or carpet can be a simple way to add a natural, earthy touch to your living room or bedroom.
What are the best vacuum cleaners for high and low pile carpets?
To effectively clean high- and low-pile carpets, consider a Miele Soft Carpet.
Why do carpets have fewer allergens?
The reason behind this is that carpets essentially act as giant air filters within homes, and low pile carpets trap much fewer allergens than high pile ones, which means you won’t need to spend nearly as much time running air filters or vacuuming to get said allergens out of your home.
Is high pile carpet good?
High pile carpets are a good choice for families interested in comfortable and warm carpets. It’s cozy and plush and like walking into a world of comforting memories. If you’ve heard of hygge–the Danish word of comfort and coziness–think of high pile carpets as the embodiment of that word.
Overview: What are the Different Elements of a Carpet?
Let’s start from the top. There are 4 main elements to every carpet. Together, these determine what your carpet will look like and how it will perform. They are:
Part I: Types of Carpet Fibers
Ok! Now that we’ve explained the four elements of a carpet, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details of each—starting with different types of carpet fibers.
Part II: Types of Carpet Piles
As we mentioned below, different types of carpet fibers can be attached to the carpet backing in many different ways—creating different types of carpet piles !
The 3 Main Types of Carpet Piles
Ok, so before we go any further, we need to explain something. The phrase “carpet pile” has numerous different meanings. To try and keep everything as clear as possible, we’re going to start with the 3 main types of carpet piles before explaining other elements of carpet piles you should know about.
Carpet Pile Height
Now that we understand the different types of carpet piles, let’s talk about carpet pile height .
Other Carpet Pile Terms You Should Know
Oh no, friend—we’re not done yet! There are just a couple more types of carpet piles you need to know about.
Part III: Types of Carpet Grades
Carpet grades are beneficial in determining how you should use different types of carpets. They predict the quality, durability, and lifespan of different types of carpet, which is helpful when you are making your decision.
Where Do I Find Carpet Specifications?
Sometimes locating all the carpet specifications you need to help you make wise and informed carpet-buying choices can be difficult, if not nearly impossible, depending on where you shop for carpet. Some carpet manufacturers are reluctant to freely provide carpet specifications to their dealers and their customers.
1. What is Carpet Pile Height?
If you want your carpet to last longer, I recommend a Carpet Pile Height of less the 3/4". On stairs, I recommend a Carpet Pile Height of 1/2" or less and a Carpet Padding Thickness of 7/16" or less and a Pile Density Rating of at least 8-pounds. Learn more about How to choose the correct Carpet Padding
2. What is Carpet Pile Density?
Pile Density is a mathematical calculation based on the fiber Face-Weight and Pile Height. Think of a heavily wooded forest. The more closely packed together the trees are, the more dense the forest is. The same goes for carpet. You want a carpet with the tufts packed tightly together.
3. What is Carpet Face-Weight
Face-weight is the actual weight of the fiber used to manufacture the carpet pile, but does not include the weight of the carpet backing. Fiber Face-weight is not the same as Total Carpet Weight, which includes the weight of the carpet backing and the fiber face-weight.
4. What is Carpet Tuft Twist?
Carpet fibers, also called yarn, is either extruded or twisted to form a single strand or "filament", These filaments are similar in size to a human hair. A bunch of filaments are grouped together and twisted together to form Tufts. While these strands are twisted, heat is applied to "set" them permanently, hence the term "heat set" or "perm".
How thick should a carpet pad be?
For most residential carpets, the carpet pad should be between 1/4- and 7/16-inch thick and should have a density of 6 to 8 pounds per cubic foot. Thinner loop and cut pile carpets require a more stable pad that offers less flexibility and give than other types of carpet.
What happens if you put too thick padding on carpet?
Padding that is too thick or thin can cause the carpet to wrinkle, buckle, separate and wear prematurely.
Why is my carpet wrinkling?
Padding that is too thick or thin can cause the carpet to wrinkle, buckle, separate and wear prematurely. In some instances, improper pad thickness voids the carpet's warranty.
