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| Photo courtesy of Shaw |
Under Foot
Selecting the correct carpet for your home.
By Jordan Mantz
Nothing enhances a room quite like a high quality rug. Not only does a high quality carpet improve the look of a room, but it also absorbs sound and adds to the peace and quiet you desire in your home. Carpets and rugs also help insulate against the cold, add comfort to your feet, and add to the safety of your home. A high quality carpet can even prevent slips and falls and protect dropped items from easily breaking. .
Because your carpet is a major investment and a key decorative element in your home, you have to take your purchase very seriously and do your research before you start your selection process. The most important things to consider are (1) whether it will fit your lifestyle or personal taste; and (2) the carpet’s life expectancy.
Location/Use
Before purchasing carpet, you need to answer the following questions: How is the room going to be used? Will it have heavy or light traffic? Will the room be the center of activity for family and entertaining? Is there direct access from outside, or will the carpet be away from entrances? Will the carpet receive direct sunlight?
Where there is heavy traffic (usually the family room, hallways and stairways), choose the highest quality carpet you can afford. When shopping for carpet, look for performance rating guidelines with various brands of carpet. This rating system offers guidance on choosing the carpet that will perform best for various traffic needs. Most guidelines will be based on a five-point scale, with a “4” or “5” rating being best for the highest traffic areas. A “2” or “3” rating is good for areas with less traffic.
| myths & truths about carpet |
myth 1 |
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The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), the industry trade association, is committed to accurately informing people about carpet and dispelling untruths and myths.
The suggestion that carpet causes indoor air quality problems is a significant issue for the carpet industry. CRI provides research-based scientific information that can be valuable to medical professionals and to anyone living with carpet.
The following myths have been identified as the top ten most persistent misconceptions.
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There are health risks associated with carpet.
truth: An extensive toxicological assessment of components of carpet concluded that the chemicals in carpet pose no health risks of public concern.
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myth 2 |
myth 3 |
| Mold and mildew can grow in carpet.
truth: Mold and mildew exist ONLY where there is excess moisture and dirt coupled with poor cleaning and maintenance habits. Mold growth can occur on any surface—from windowpanes to carpet—that is not properly maintained and when moisture is extreme. Eliminating sources of excessive moisture, such as water leaks, and controlling humidity greatly offset the potential for mold to grow. |
Carpet is a cause of the asthma and allergy increase.
truth: Comparison data from Sweden supports that there is no link between carpet usage and the incidence of asthma or allergies. CRI is not aware of any published scientific research demonstrating a link between carpet and asthma or allergies. |
Color
Because it covers so much living space, carpet is the foundation of your room’s décor. It can be a neutral color, blending in with fabrics and other surfaces; or it can be a vibrant focal point of the room, making a statement that reflects your style and personality.The selection of carpet color is a personal choice. Carpet comes in almost every color, pattern and texture you can imagine. You will want to select a color that unites your decorative elements and creates the atmosphere you desire. Ever-popular beige carpet can make a room look spacious; but for a bolder statement, look for a common color in your furniture and draperies. Environmental colors, like blues, deep greens, rosy quartzes and stony neutrals are becoming increasingly popular.
Warm colors can turn up the heat in a room that lacks light, while cool greens and blues have a calming effect. Lighter colors make the room seem larger; darker colors provide coziness. There are also practical considerations in color selection. New stain and soil resistant technology makes today’s lighter color carpet much easier to clean, allowing more decorating options. Medium and darker colors, tweeds and textures will help disguise common soil in your home’s high traffic areas.
Cost
Your budget and your needs are two key elements in selecting carpet and rugs. There are a wide range of choices and price ranges. Ask yourself how long you expect to keep your carpet before replacing it. A better grade of carpet will give you a greater length of service than one of lesser quality. Buy the best carpet you can afford for the heavy traffic areas of your home (halls, stairs, and family rooms). A medium grade will provide good service in rooms with less traffic (bedrooms and guestrooms).
The cost of carpet is based on many factors, including fiber, construction, quality and design. The total project will include the cost of padding and installation. Be wary of the cheapest products or services.
Ask your retailer to give you a complete cost estimate—one that includes padding, installation, moving of furniture, hauling off old flooring materials and any special needs that you may have. Remember: A high-quality, professional installation can extend the life of your investment.
| myth 4 |
myth 5 |
myth 6 |
| Carpet is a sink for allergy-causing substances.
truth: This is true as stated. The critical point, however, is often missed. Carpet holds allergen-causing substances tightly and, as a result, keeps allergens from becoming airborne, minimizing the level of allergens in the breathing zone. This translates to lower exposure potential. The allergens held by carpet’s filter-like effect may be removed by vacuuming, refreshing the filter-like properties of the carpet to allow more material to be removed from the air.
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Carpet is a source of indoor quality (IAQ) problems.
truth: As noted previously, an extensive toxicological assessment of components of, and emissions from, carpet concluded that the chemicals in carpet “present no health risks of public health concern.” Further, allergens in carpet may be removed by vacuuming. Vacuum cleaner machines bearing the CRI IAQ Green Label meet scientifically established standards for soil removal and dust containment and help maintain good carpet appearance. |
Carpet is more expensive and harder to maintain than hard-floor surfaces.
truth: Properly maintained carpet only needs vacuuming once or twice weekly and periodic extraction cleaning. The sweeping, mopping, stripping, waxing, and buffing that hard surface floors demand are more laborious and costly. |
| myth 7 |
myth 8 |
myth 9 |
| Carpet is environmentally non-sustainable.
truth: CRI member companies, representing over 90 percent of the industry’s manufacturers, have an excellent track record over the last dozen years of decreasing wastes produced and energy consumed, improving the industry’s sustainability.
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Carpet is a major emitter of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
truth:Most new interior furnishings and building materials emit VOCs for a period of time. Emissions from new carpet are among the lowest of any household’s indoor furnishings, and most VOCs dissipate within 24 hours—even faster with good ventilation. |
Formaldehyde is used in the production of new carpet.
truth: Formaldehyde is not used in the carpet manufacturing process. It is not emitted from new carpet. |
Construction:
Textures and Patterns
Today’s carpet offers much more than a conventional loop pile. To add to a room’s sophistication and interest, consider choosing a textured pattern. New technology can produce multilevel loop and cut/loop patterns. Choose diamonds, bows, pin dots or fleurs-de-lis designs that “pop out” in sculptured effects. The texture, colors and pattern of the carpet can be made to complement or contrast with patterns of your furniture and window treatments. Using a solid color, textured carpet is a great way to provide interest and pizzazz, without going to a multicolor, overall pattern.
Textured styles also fit well with today’s active and casual lifestyles. Textured carpet can be created through the use of several construction techniques. Many of these styles are known for their soil-hiding ability.
| myth 10 |
| Latex in carpet produces allergic reactions.
truth:The latex that holds the fibers and backing together in broadloom carpet is synthetic. Synthetic latex is not associated with the allergic reactions of natural latex, which are caused by the proteins found in natural latex.
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Cut pile — Loops are cut, leaving individual yarn tufts. This is still one of today’s most popular constructions. Its durability is achieved with factors including the type of fiber, density of tufts, and the amount of twist in the yarn.
Plush / Velvet — Smooth, level surfaces; formal atmosphere, and a “velvety” texture.
Saxony — Smooth, level finish; pile yarns have more twist so that the yarn ends are visible and create a less formal look; minimizes footprints.
Friezé — In this cut pile, the yarns are extremely twisted, forming a “curly” textured surface. This informal look also minimizes footprints and vacuum marks.
Level loop pile — Loops are the same height, creating an informal look. It generally lasts a long time in high-traffic areas. Many of today’s popular Berber styles are level loop styles with flecks of a darker color on a lighter background.
Multi-level loop pile — Usually has two to three different loop heights to create pattern effects, providing good durability and a more casual look.
Cut and loop pile — Combination of cut and looped yarns; provides variety of surface textures, including sculptured effects of squares, chevrons, swirls, etc.
Really Express Yourself!
Perhaps you are ready to boldly express yourself with a floral, fleur-de-lis or multicolored carpet that will enhance plaids, stripes or solids furnishings. European, English, French Country and Colonial are some of the descriptive words used for the beautiful combinations of patterned carpet used with patterned furnishings.
“Texture, color and pattern are the key words for todays carpet styles. If you haven’t shopped for carpet in awhile, be prepared to be pleasantly suprised. The possibilities are endless!”
— Ruth Scherer of Ruth Scherer Flooring & Associates
“The new “soft yarn” carpets recently introduced have been an overwhelming favorite with consumers. These new innovative carpet fibers produce a durable style with an elegant, comfortable touch never before possible. Additionally, these new carpets have an exceptional ability to resist soil and stains and are more crush-resistant than ever before. These carpets are offered in a wide array of styles in a variety of the newest colors.”
— Bob Klein of Carpet Network
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Fibers
Fiber is carpet’s basic ingredient. The type of fiber used and the way the carpet is constructed determine how well the carpet will stand up to spills, pets and daily traffic. Approximately 97 percent of all carpet is produced using synthetic fibers that are designed to feature style, easy maintenance and outstanding value.
There are five basic types of carpet pile fibers:
Nylon: This is the most popular and represents two-thirds of the pile fibers used in the United States. It is wear-resistant, resilient, withstands the weight and movement of furniture, and provides brilliant color. It also has the ability to conceal and resist soils and stains. Nylon is generally good for all traffic areas. Solution-dyed nylon is colorfast because color is added in the fiber production.
Olefin (polypropylene): Strong, resistant to wear and permanent stains are easily cleaned. This fiber is notably colorfast because color is added during fiber production. It resists static electricity and is often used in both indoor and outdoor installations because of its resistance to moisture and mildew. Olefin is used in synthetic turf for sports surfaces and in the home for patios and game rooms. Many Berbers are made of olefin.
Polyester: Noted for luxurious, soft “hand” when used in thick, cut-pile textures, polyester has excellent color clarity and retention. It is easily cleaned and resistant to water-soluble stains.
Acrylic: Offers the appearance and feel of wool without the cost. Acrylic has low static level and is moisture and mildew-resistant. It is commonly used in velvet and level-loop constructions, and often in bath and scatter rugs.
Wool: Noted for its luxury and performance, wool is soft, has high bulk and is available in many colors. Generally, wool is somewhat more expensive than synthetic fibers.
Blends: A wool/nylon blend combines the superior look and comfort of wool with the durability of nylon. Acrylic/olefin and nylon/olefin are other popular blends, offering good characteristics of each fiber.
Measurement: square yard/ square foot comparison
To determine the approximate quantity of carpet you will need, multiply the length (feet) of the room by its width (feet) for the square footage. To obtain the square yardage, divide that figure by nine (9). Your retailer may figure the amount in square feet or square yards. Add 10 percent to account for room irregularities and pattern match. It is best to have your retailer or installer make final measurements to ensure that you purchase the correct amount. As professionals, they know how to include hallways and closets, match patterns, plan seam placement, work with room irregularities and account for rooms with widths greater than 12 feet. (Most carpet is produced in 12- and 15-foot widths). Dealers may sell by the square foot or the square yard.
Quality Factors
The type of fiber used and the way the carpet is constructed determines the basic performance of the carpet. Quality can be enhanced by the way the fibers, or yarns, are twisted and heat set and by the density of the tufts. Deep-pile height that’s densely tufted has a luxurious feel; however, pile height is really a matter of personal choice and does not, in itself, denote durability.
Our Carpet and Rug Professionals:
For additional information contact the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) at (800) 882-8846 or visit the Web sites at www.carpet-rug.com and www.carpet-schools.com for extensive information about carpet and rugs.
In Our Next Issue: Coming Clean: Caring for your carpet and rugs.
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