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Carpet Construction & Durability

Durability depends on three important factors:  The type of fiber, the yarn twist, and the pile density.  Choosing a carpet based on any "one" of these factors can be misleading,  It's important to select the right balance of all three. 

Notice that weight of the carpet is not directly mentioned above, weight certainly is a factor in calculating the density rating of a carpet, and therefore has some bearing on durability, but weight alone does not address other major durability factors such as, yarn twist, fiber type, and texture. Comparing carpet based on weight alone can be misleading.

Carpets of good durability can be found in all of the "construction types" listed below.  Therefore, a good starting point in carpet selection is simply determining the look you like, such as smooth saxony, textured cut pile, looped,  patterned, etc., then you can look at differing durability factors with-in the style you like.

Fiber:
Nylon
continues to be the ideal carpet fiber.  It is the strongest, most resilient fiber used today and is now available in very soft forms.
Polyester fiber produces carpet that are also soft to the touch, but not as resilient as carpet of nylon.  Polyester is best suited for low traffic areas.
Olefin
(also called polypropylene) is often used in indoor/outdoor carpets and in loop-pile carpets.  Olefin is more resistant to stains but has less resilience than nylon or polyester.
Wool is a natural fiber and presents a beautiful appearance.  However, wool may not be as resilient at man-made carpet fibers.

Yarn Twist:
Yarn twist, particularly in cut-pile carpet, is important to performance.  All pile yarns in cut-pile carpets have been heat set to help maintain their twist.  The tighter the twist of the individual yarns, the better the carpet will retain its appearance.

Pile Density:
Density is how tight or how closely tufted the yarns are to each other.  Dense carpets tend to be firm and less soft because the pile can not move as much as carpets of lesser density.  The density "equation" does not address yarn twist, fiber type or texture, which are other important factors in selecting carpet.

Color & Texture:
Light-colored carpets will show soil more than dark colors, and dark colors will show lint more than light colors.  The appropriate color carpet can help disguise soil tracked in from the outside since the colors of dirt, sand and clay vary widely. Tweeds, pebbled textures, and patterns are good choices for rooms where spills and soiling are likely to be a problem.

  Constructions Types
Cut Pile Plush   (picture)
Sometimes called a Saxony Plush. These carpets provide a smooth luxurious surface. Often soft, and do show footprints, vacuum marks, and shading. Often considered a rich or elegant look. 

Textured Cut Pile
  (picture)
Curled or twisted tufts of yarn that create a textured surface that helps to mask footprints and traffic lanes. Suitable for all decors, often considered a less formal look.

Loop Pile Carpet   (picture)
When used in residential applications, loop pile carpets are often called Berber carpet. The loops can be of equal height (level loop) or multi-level.  Multi-level loops can be tufted to form patterns. Flecks of color are often incorporated.
Frieze   (picture)
A type of textured carpet with highly twisted tufts that curl at the pile surface.  Shows much less shading and foot printing than saxony type carpets. Frieze carpets offer great durability and ease of maintenance.
Cut Pile Berber Fleck   (picture)
Cut pile construction using either one or two yarn sizes, and often containing flecks of darker colors, creating a casual textured look.  Often considered informal and lending itself to Southwest, Territorial or Santa Fe decors.
Cut & Loop to create a sculptured carpet  (picture)
Yarns are tufted into large islands of high cut tufts and lower loop tufts to form a sculptured pattern. Usually informal look. 
Cut & Loop to create a patterned graphic carpet  (picture)
Yarns are tufted in repeating, often geometric patterns. generally a formal look.
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