On the Carpet

By: Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk (Page 3 of 8)

Padding is sold in a variety of thicknesses, densitites and weights to provide the right feel and protect the carpet from premature wear. From left to right: prime urethane, rebonded urethane, natural fiber.

Loop Piles: A level loop pile is tough enough for high-traffic areas.

Loop Piles: Mulitlevel loop pile has two or three different loop heights to create a patterned effect

Cut and Loop pile combines cut and uncut tufts to create a patterned surface that hides wear. It's a good choice for family rooms and other high-traffic areas.

Cut Piles: Saxonies are made of twisted yarns with well-defined tuft tips.

Cut Piles: Velvet piles create a luxurious, level surface suitable for formal areas.

Browse Images

Browse Floors Galleries:

View All

How-To Video

Browse More

How to Install Wall-To-Wall Carpeting

In this how-to video, This Old House host Kevin O'Connor explains how to lay a carpet

Watch The Video

On Newsstands Now

In the Magazine

Easy Upgrades That Say Welcome Home

What You'll Learn:

Style Basics
Carpets are made of fibers that are cut, looped or cut and looped. Although there are several different subcategories of carpet styles, all fall within one of these three groups. As a general rule, as pile height increases, the carpet becomes softer and more luxurious but also harder to clean.

Loop-pile carpets: There are level loops and multilevel loops. Because the yarn tips aren't exposed, these carpets tend to wear better and work well in high-traffic areas, such as hallways and family rooms. "Thick berber rugs are fine for high-traffic areas, but the tightly spaced loops of thick yarn tend to trap dirt and can be difficult to keep clean," says Grable.

Cut-pile carpets:.These include styles known as velvets, saxonies and friezes. They have a nicer look and richer feel but aren't as durable as loop piles. Adding a twist to the fiber, however, does add durability. "The tighter the twist, the tougher it is," says Bruce Baxter, a dealer/installer in Pine Bush, New York.
"A velvet is fine for low-traffic areas but tends to show dirt and footprints. Saxonies are twisted and then heat-set, giving them more resilience for use on stairs or in hallways." Friezes have the most curl and greatest resilience.

Cut-loop pile: This is a combination of loop-pile and cut-pile carpets. The combination of large islands of cut tufts and lower loop tufts hides wear well. It's recommended for stairways, family rooms and less formal dining areas.