Comparing Carpet for Purchase
For most homeowners new carpeting is considered a major investment. To help protect your investment it's important to compare the quality of each type of carpet before your purchase. Higher quality carpet will last longer, require less maintenance and show less wear over time. Lower quality carpet may have a shorter lifespan and can develop a threadbare look as it wears. Balance the quality of the carpeting with the cost and consider appearance, maintenance and functionality before making your selection.
- Fibers: Nylon, the most popular fiber for carpet usually outlasts other the other fibers. Polyester is fairly durable but won't last as long and severely mats versus nylon. Olefin is the least durable, wears fairly quickly and very severely mats.
- Gauge is the distance between the needles. For example 1/8 gauge simply means there is 1/8” between each needle, or there are 8 needles per inch.
- Twist: The twist rating of a carpet measures how many times each fiber tuft is twisted over a 1-inch length. The higher the twist rating, the better the quality and the more resistant to matting.
- Face weight represents the number of ounces of fabric per square yard of carpet. Heavier weights are better, with face weights of 35 and above generally considered higher quality carpeting.
- Density represents the number of fiber tufts per square inch. Look at the back of the carpet to check for density or see if this information has been provided by the manufacturer. As a general rule, you should not be able to reach through the fibers and touch the backing below. If you can, the carpet is likely not dense enough to last - this would be characteristic of "contractor grade" carpet that new homes come with.
- Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) rating: The CRI rates carpets on a scale of 1 to 5 based on their ability to resist wear over time. Look for CRI ratings between 2.5 and 4 for carpet in the home. Carpet rated below 2.5 is best for rooms that will experience little traffic, while ratings above 4 represent the highest quality carpet available.
Related Carpet and Fiber Manufacturing Information:
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