Advantages of Berber Carpet
Berber is a dense, rather flat, firm carpet--not soft and fluffy--used as a floor covering in homes and businesses, popular in large part because it is so durable. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The Berber carpet originated in Northern Africa in the areas of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia dating back to prehistoric times and is named after the native peoples of that area (called Berbers) who wove carpets, rugs, fabrics and cloaks from natural fibers of that region, such as wool and camel hair. The people of this area continue to weave this traditional rug by hand. However, the traditional rug is only the precursor or namesake to the modern, machine produced carpet referred to as Berber carpet in North America. The traditional Moroccan Berber carpet is more beautiful and intricate, but it did inspire the modern Berber carpet.
Features
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The modern Berber carpet is distinguished by a tight loop construction using a combination of large and small loops or tufts that sometimes create a pattern or slight texture. It is firm, flat and durable. A Berber carpet is usually a combination of two or more colors. Traditionally a light colored carpet with dark flecks, the Berber now comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and dark color combinations are readily available. The first manufactured Berber carpet was made from wool and nylon fibers, but today polyester, polypropylene (olefin), PET (a petro plastic) and/or blends of these fiber materials are more common. Each fiber has specific advantages and disadvantages.
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Benefits
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The Berber carpet is very affordable--usually much less expensive than a plush, high pile carpet--though within the Berber family prices vary depending on fiber content, stitch and gauge rate and the yarn pile. The Modern Berber carpet is very durable and is well suited for high traffic areas and commercial use. Because of the dense, tight weave, footprints and traffic patterns don't show. It resists stains, especially if treated with a stain resister. And it is easy to clean--frequent vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner with high suction (without a rotating bar or beater brush) is generally all that is needed.
Uses
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When first introduced, the modern Berber carpet was found most often in commercial spaces, such as schools, churches, businesses, common hallways and offices. Now Berber carpet is also very popular in homes--in utilitarian spaces like basements, hallways, on stairs, and in playrooms and also in living rooms, dens, offices and other areas.
Recommendations
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The highest quality Berber carpet is made of 100 percent wool or 100 percent nylon, though it is also more expensive. When buying Berber, look for a thick, dense weave with a low pile height, a high twist level (more turns per inch), and a higher stitch and gauge rate (more, tighter stitches).
If you are unable to remove stains from a Berber carpet using traditional methods, dry cleaning or special solvents may solve the problem.
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