Choosing the Right Carpet for Your Home

Choosing the Right Carpet
for Your Home
A Guide from Floor Coverings International
Floor Coverings International Ebook
Floor Coverings International Ebook
When choosing the right carpet for your home, it’s important to know exactly what you want and
need. Different types of carpeting offer different looks and textures, as well as having different
levels of durability, sound reduction, and cost.
Some features you are looking for may include:
Durability
Good For Allergies
Patterns
Sound Dampening
Uniform Color
High or Deep Pile
Environmental Friendliness
Short Pile
Low Price
Resistance to Footprints and Vacuum Tracks
Softness
Hides Dirt and Debris
Indoor/Outdoor Compatibility
Good for Kids
Stain Resistance
Good for Pets
Once you know what you’re looking for, you can start examining your options for beautiful new
residential carpeting. There are two major categories you’ll want to investigate: style, and fiber.
Style refers to the pile (the soft fibrous part of the carpet), how thick the pile is, how long the pile
is, whether the pile is uniform in length, and how it’s connected to the carpet’s base. Fiber refers
to what the pile is actually made of. This guide will help you understand the benefits of different
styles and fibers, to make the best carpeting choice for all the areas of your home.
Carpet Styles
Frieze Carpet
Plush Carpet
Berber Carpet
Shag Carpet
Carpet Fibers
Nylon Carpet
Sisal Carpet
Olefin Carpet
Wool Carpet
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Carpet Styles
1. Frieze Carpet
Durability
Uniform Color
Softness
Sound Dampening
High or Deep Pile
Resistance to Footprints and
Vacuum Tracks
Hides Dirt and Debris
Good for Kids
Good for Pets
Frieze carpets are a popular choice in many homes, and with good reason. Frieze is a heavy, cut pile
carpet, meaning the individual strands are only connected to the carpet at one point and do not
loop back down. The fibers are soft and thick, meaning they both feel nice, and hide dirt, footprints,
and vacuum tracks. This type of carpet is also quite durable, and good for high traffic areas, such as
living rooms or hallways. Frieze is a good choice for both kids and pets. It doesn’t come in different
patterns, but there are numerous colors to choose from, including variegated yarns that provide a
more textured look.
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2. Berber Carpet
Durability
Patterns
Uniform Color
Low Price
Indoor/Outdoor Compatibility
Stain Resistance
Good For Allergies
Short Pile
Resistance to Footprints and
Vacuum Tracks
Good for Kids
Berber carpet has what’s known as a loop pile, meaning the strands of yarn loop back down and are
connected to the carpet’s base at both ends. Years ago Berber carpets were often used only in
indoor-outdoor spaces such as patios and basements, because of their durability and stain
resistance, but recent advances in technology have softened them, making them more popular for
bedrooms and living rooms. This carpet is excellent for kids, and is resistant to allergens. If you have
pets, however, this is a carpet to avoid. Loop carpets get stuck in claws, and pets often see this type
of flooring as a chew toy.
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3. Plush Carpet
Durability
Patterns
Uniform Color
Softness
Low Price
Sound Dampening
Hides Dirt and Debris
Good for Kids
Good for Pets
Plush carpet, sometimes referred to as “saxony carpet”, is a classic style of cut pile carpet that has
been popular virtually since its invention. Plush carpet is soft, with a medium pile, and comes in a
variety of styles. Plush carpet can come with patterns, though they are less common than
variegated or uniformly colored versions. Plush carpets come in all different fibers, and can be quite
economical. They are extremely low maintenance, making them ideal for the busy homeowner.
While some say plush carpets lack the character of other styles, their classic look never goes out of
fashion.
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4. Shag Carpet
Uniform Color
Softness
Sound Dampening
High or Deep Pile
Resistance to Footprints and
Vacuum Tracks
Hides Dirt and Debris
If you are looking for a high style carpet choice, shag is the way to go. Sometimes also called “cable”
carpeting, shag has been significantly improved over the decades, and is making a comeback as the
height of flooring fashion. Shag carpets are soft, with deep pile and a casual, playful texture. As with
many designer and in style items, shag carpeting is a bit more expensive than more traditional piles,
but it is a must have for the modern, fashion forward living space.
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Carpet Fibers
1. Nylon Carpet
Durability
Patterns
Uniform Color
Low Price
Softness
Indoor/Outdoor Compatibility
Stain Resistance
Good For Allergies
High or Deep Pile
Short Pile
Good for Kids
Good for Pets
Nylon is the most popular fiber for carpets in the US, with 90% of household carpets made entirely
or in part out of nylon. Nylon carpeting is perfect for houses with kids and pets, because this
synthetic fiber is naturally stain resistant and durable. Not only is this a versatile choice for
carpeting, it’s a low cost one- nylon is an inexpensive alternative to natural fibers. If you or a family
member suffers from allergies, nylon is the best choice. It repels allergens and resists mold and
mildew.
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2. Olefin Carpet
Uniform Color
Low Price
Softness
Indoor/Outdoor Compatibility
Stain Resistance
Good For Allergies
Short Pile
Olefin is a relative newcomer on the residential carpeting field, but a great choice none the less.
Olefin, also known as polypropylene, is a synthetic fiber used in Berber and other short loop-pile
carpets. It is economical and extremely stain, mold, and mildew resistant, making it great for
indoor/outdoor carpeting, as well as for repelling allergens. If you have a tendency to rearrange
furniture in your space frequently, you’ll want to avoid Olefin, since it has a low tolerance for
friction. You’ll also want to avoid it for children’s bedrooms. Family rooms, however, are a terrific
place to use this versatile, low maintenance fiber.
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3. Sisal Carpet
Durability
Patterns
Uniform Color
Environmental Friendliness
Sound Dampening
Short pile
Resistance to Footprints and
Vacuum Tracks
Sisal carpets are becoming popular with environmentally minded people throughout the world,
making them a terrific choice for the modern home. Sisal is a natural fiber that comes from the
agave plant, and is woven into tight, extremely durable strands. It’s also resistant to wear and tear,
static, and dust. Since sisal comes from a plant, it is more environmentally friendly than many
synthetic fibers, however, being a natural fiber, it is also more prone to staining. If you have kids or
pets, and decide to use sisal fiber carpet, it’s important to have it pretreated for extra stain
resistance.
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4. Wool Carpet
Patterns
Uniform Color
Environmental Friendliness
Softness
Stain Resistance
Sound Dampening
High or Deep Pile
Short Pile
Good for Pets
Good for Kids
Nylon is the most popular fiber for carpets in the US, with 90% of household carpets made entirely
or in part out of nylon. Nylon carpeting is perfect for houses with kids and pets, because this
synthetic fiber is naturally stain resistant and durable. Not only is this a versatile choice for
carpeting, it’s a low cost one- nylon is an inexpensive alternative to natural fibers. If you or a family
member suffers from allergies, nylon is the best choice. It repels allergens and resists mold and
mildew.
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The Floor Coverings International Difference
Carpet flooring comes in an almost endless variety of styles, colors, and textures, and options are
always changing. To serve your needs, we maintain direct relationships with the largest carpet
manufacturers, allowing us to bring you the latest styles and features in carpeting technology.
Whether you’re looking for the newest fashion, the easiest maintenance, a specific color, or
flooring that can stand up to your kids and pets, we have the perfect carpet to make your home
beautiful.
Remember these key features:
Berber is great for durability
Shag is the high style choice for the modern home
Plush is classic and great for kids
Frieze has the benefits of style and comfort
In addition to style and fiber, Floor Coverings International Cherry Hill stocks a wide variety of
brands to suit every taste and budget, including:
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Want to learn more about carpeting options for your home?
Call Floor Coverings International of Cherry Hill at
856-616-9566.