Types of Carpet Pile
When you're choosing carpet for your home, one consideration is the pile. Some wear better than others, yes, but perhaps the most important question is what appeals to you. Your options range from low, flat pile to thick, luxurious shag, with a variety of textures and lengths in between. If comfort is especially important to you, take home a sample and dig your toes in before you buy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Level Loop Pile
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In level loop pile carpets, the fibers form loops of equal height, creating a flat, textured surface. The loops help keep dirt on the surface, which makes these carpets easy to maintain if they are vacuumed often. However, the loops also serve to hold the dirt in if it does manage to seep through the fibers. Longer, thicker loops make this type of pile more upscale, as in nicer Berber carpet. But Berber has a downside: It can snag and unravel.
Patterned Loop Pile
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Patterned carpets have loops of differing heights, which are used to make a design in the carpet. The carpets can be a solid color, or they may incorporate varying colors to make the pattern stand out even further. Typical designs include floral and geometric patterns.
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Cut Pile
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In cut-pile carpets, each fiber loop is cut, making individual carpet strands. The feel of the carpet depends largely on the fibers' twisting and length. Cut-pile carpet with smoother fibers, such as Saxony or plush, do nothing to disguise vacuum tracks or footprints. Other types with more textured, more tightly twisted fibers, such as textured Saxony or frieze, are not so impressionable. Plush, or velvet, carpets are considered formal, and textured carpets are more casual.
Cut and Loop Pile
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Cut-and-loop pile combines low, uncut loops with taller, clipped fibers to create a wide variety of patterns. This pile helps disguise wear and tear with its texture, and it often uses multicolored yarns, which also make imperfections less noticeable. Cut-and-loop pile carpets can be used in formal and informal rooms.
Considerations
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Level loop pile, in general, is more durable than cut piles, though it can also feel less luxurious and comfortable. But when considering what type of carpet to buy, the pile has less effect on durability than does the type of fiber you choose. Carpets made from wool are very durable, but they are also very expensive. Nylon offers many of the same benefits at a lower price point, and other synthetic fibers are even less expensive.
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