| Natural:A textured loop pile carpet in natural shades, often with a sisal, coir or berber appearance. In addition to being both hardwearing and practical, they bring a natural feel to the home. Natural look carpet, particularly those with tight and dense loops are generally very hard wearing. Sisal and coir are popular, but often natural look carpet in wool, polypropylene and mixed fibres is a more practical option and better value for money. Look for wool/synthetic mixes as these provide the best combination of wear and appearance retention. | Sculptured:This carpet effect is created
by a combination of both cut and loop pile, and nearly
always uses nylon yarn. The length of
tuft is generally long, like saxony, giving a luxurious feel
underfoot and making it ideal for lounges and bedrooms.
Sculptured carpet, is
also known as cut and loop. Look for heavy pile weights and
density rather than long pile.
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Twist
Pile: Cut
pile carpet, tightly twisted tufts making it very practical
and hardwearing. Ideal for
all heavy domestic locations,
including hall, stairs and landings. A traditional British carpet
style. Twist pile carpet comes in a whole range of pile contents,
particularly
wool, wool mix, nylon and polypropylene. Each fibre has its own
advantages. Nylon for pure abrasion resistance, polypropylene
for stain resistance,
wool for resilience and appearance retention. Usually a mix of
80% wool 20% synthetic gives particularly good all round performance.
Look
for heavy pile weights and density. |
|
Pattern:A practical alternative to plain carpets, patterns are most commonly found in printed nylon or woven wool carpets. Both are usually hardwearing and practical. In both cases look for pile density rather than length of pile. Tufted patterned carpets, with low pile height, but high tuft density usually represent excellent value for money, and when made from nylon are generally a hardwearing and practical option. Woven wool carpets (Axminster and Wilton) are of excellent quality, but they do command a high price tag. Because of this, they are generally used in contract locations, in very large rooms or in the home when replacement is unlikely. |
Velvet:Cut pile carpets in which the tufts are low and tightly packed giving a luxurious feel and appearance. Velvets can be found in a whole range of fibres and constructions, particularly woven and tufted, and in a whole range of pile contents, including nylon, polypropylene, wool and wool mixes. Polypropylene velvets offer good value for money, but it is generally nylon, wool and wool mixes that are the best option. Look for very low pile height and high pile density for the best performance. |
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| Saxony: Cut pile carpet, relatively long tufts giving a luxurious
feel and appearance, making saxonies ideal for lounges, bedrooms and
other areas where comfort underfoot is a priority. Generally saxonies
use nylon or polyester fibres and less frequently wool. Wherever possible
look for a saxony with closely packed dense pile rather than height
of pile, as this will reduce pile crushing, and generally give better
performance. |
|
Woven: Weaving is the traditional method of carpet manufacture, with
the two most common methods being Axminster and Wilton. These are hardwearing
carpets; Axminsters are almost always made from an 80/20 wool mix,
while Wiltons are found in both 80/20 wool mixes and 100% polypropylene.
The highest quality woven carpets are generally made with 80% wool
and 20% nylon yarn. Weaving is a slower production method and therefore
costs considerably more. Look for tightly woven construction as this
gives heavier tuft density, thereby improving performance. |
