Carpet is back in fashion. But with a myriad of styles and colours being released every year, selecting the right carpet to match your needs can be tricky.
By Sacha Markin
When choosing a carpet, it's worth bearing in mind the visual, as well as the technical issues. One of the main factors when considering carpet is the amount of foot traffic that will be on the area once laid. The construction and the texture are both key in your selection, but, with so many carpets available on the market today, there really is something for everyone (and every room).
Choosing carpet has its benefits, and these have only aided its recent popularity. They include the obvious warmth aspect - carpet is the ideal choice for bedrooms, family rooms and other areas where warmth underfoot is preferred - to insulation, where carpet really does provide that extra layer of padding, adding to energy efficiency.
Safety is another factor, as carpet guarantees a non-slip surface to prevent accidents and a natural cushion in the event of a fall, as is sound reduction, because carpet dampens noise in three ways: reducing surface noise from foot traffic, absorbing airborne sound and blocking transmission of sound between floors - handy for flats. And there is the design and decoration of a room. Carpet can be the key foundation of any room's decor, and because it is available in so many textures and colours, carpet creates an unlimited number of possibilities for decorating.
The low cost of carpet offers an economical alternative to other flooring choices, while installation costs are typically less than for hard surfaces. Carpets on today's market are also long-lasting and remarkably durable. The addition of carpet to any room can even disguise existing floor damage and hide other irregularities, such as uneven or warped floors.
How Different Carpets Are Made
Carpet is manufactured in one of two ways, either weaving or tufting. Woven carpets are made primarily with wool and are extremely robust, but sometimes expensive. Woven carpets can be produced by hand or by machine, however both methods largely follow the same procedure. Yarn is woven though or around vertical fibres called warps, then locked into place with horizontal strands.
More than 90 per cent of carpets sold today in the UK are created using the tufting method. Tufted carpets cover most colours, patters and effects, and all Carpet Foundation manufacturers supply tufted carpet. Tufting machines use computers to determine patterns, styles, construction and density. Once the fibres are in place, the carpet is dyed using a variety of methods to create patterns or effects. For certain carpets, the final stage is stretched or the loops are cut. This stage will help determine the carpet's feel and softness.
The carpet also receives a secondary stretched backing, to give it stability and to allow it to be stretched during installation. Most carpets today also receive stain protection during the manufacturing phase. The quality of a carpet will depend on the type of yarn used, and how that yarn is treated during manufacturing.
Excluding natural materials, nylon, polyester, wool and olefin are the mostly widely used fibres in carpet manufacturing, and each offers qualities useful in specific applications. Even though nylon is the most expensive type of fibre, it is also soft and resilient, which makes it great for any room in your home.
Polyester is less durable than nylon, but quite cost efficient - offering a high level of resistance to stains, which makes it an ideal choice for areas such as dining rooms. Olefin is solution dyed, which results in a highly resistant stain carpet that can be cleaned easily without colour loss. Unlike many other fibres, olefin is fade and mould resistant, which results in a carpet that works well both indoors or out.
Exclusive competitions and discount offers for 4Homes readers in our Advent Calendar
Your chance to contribute to Kirstie's Homemade Home, by suggesting a craft to appear in the show
All the inspiration you'll need if you love modern, sleek bedroom design
.jpg)
Your Comments
Post your comment
Please note: In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in to Channel 4:
Sign In Here or Register Here
Comments closed
Comments are closed at the present time
Comments
Thank you for your comment!
Your message will be reviewed and the best ones will be published below.
If you intended to make an official comment to Channel 4 please contact us.