How to Compare Carpet - Apples to Apples!
What Makes ONE
Carpet Better Than ANOTHER?
Carpet
quality is determined by the
type of materials used,
the amount of fiber face-weight and how it is constructed. This is important
information you need to know before you make your carpet selection. Let
me explain a little about Tuft Twist and where you can
locate this critical information when shopping for new carpet.
The Carpet "Specification" Label
On the back of every carpet sample
there should be a manufacturer's label that shows the type of fiber used to make the pile,
the pile density rating and the tuft twist count.
Other
information shown on the label should reveal which anti-stain or anti-static treatments have
been applied, the manufacturer's brand and the style and color names.
This is the "critical information" you
MUST have to help you determine how durable the carpet is
and whether or not it would be a good choice for your needs, goals and
lifestyle.
Sadly, many carpet retailers remove or alter
carpet labels to hide this basic information that consumers need to make wise and
informed choices. They do this to make it difficult for you to comparison shop. I
advise my readers to not shop at carpet stores that remove or alter carpet
specification labels.
Most carpet stores carry the same carpet
brands, styles and colors as many other nearby carpet stores, The sneaky carpet retailers
try to hide or alter the
carpet specs to make it hard for you to comparison shop and shop for a lower price on
the exact same carpet down the street.
If you want to save as much money
as possible, you will need to learn as much as you can about how carpet is made so you can
make a wise and informed choices. I can help you accomplish that and more...
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The Tuft Twist
Carpet fibers or "filaments" are grouped together
to form tufts and twisted while heat
is applied to "set" the fibers permanently, hence the term "heat
set". The tighter the filaments are twisted the more durable the carpet
will be.
This tuft has 7 twists and is a sign of a well-made carpet.
This tuft has 4 twists and is not as good and
is a sign of a lower grade of carpet
The Number of Tuft Twists is an important key to
making sure your carpet retains its like new appearance longer. Frieze styles
tend to have a higher tuft twist (over 6) and is why they
are well-known for their durability and retaining a like-new appearance longer
than many other styles..
What makes a Carpet look worn out?
Carpets with a low Tuft Twist (3
to 5) tend to untwist or “blossom”
at the yarn tips
more quickly thus creating a worn out or
matted down appearance..
For this reason a Carpet with a higher Tuft Twist
will retain its like-new appearance longer and tolerate a higher level of foot
traffic. When comparing carpets side by side,
you must consider the Tuft Twist to help you determine which carpet is the
better choice. Carpets with a lower Tuft Twist tend to "blossom"
more quickly and as a result will appear worn out sooner.
Study this chart to better understand how carpet
quality is determined in part by the number of twists each tuft has. Most frieze
styles have a high tuft twist rating of at least 6 or more. That's one reason
why frieze carpets tend to wear better and last longer than many other
styles.
Like
what you've learned so far? I
reveal more information you need in my Complete Carpet Buying Guide. It's
an instant download ebook and it will quickly bring you up to speed and put YOU
in the driver's seat when shopping for new carpet! It makes shopping for new carpet fun, simple and successful! It's only
$14.95 and I guarantee
your complete satisfaction. Scroll down to learn more.
Alan's
Preferred Carpet Dealer
