By Alan
Fletcher - Carpet Expert & Consumer Advocate
How to Compare Carpet
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 Carpet Pile Density and Tuft Twist and where you can
locate this information while shopping for carpet.
On the back of every carpet sample should be a
manufacturers label that shows the type of fiber used to make the pile,
the pile density rating and the tuft twist count. Other
information shown should reveal if anti-stain or anti-static treatments have
been applied, the manufacturer and the style and color names. This is the
critical information you need 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 the basic information consumers need to make a wise and
informed choice. 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
labels.
Most carpet stores carry the exact same
carpets as every other store and they don't want you to find a lower price on
the same carpet down the street. Carpet r
The fact is, if you want to save as much money
as possible, you will need to learn as much as you can about carpet so you can
make a wise and informed choice. Take your time and do it right the first
time.
Carpet density is the key to having a
carpet retain its like new appearance longer. The higher the density the more
durable the carpet will be. Pile density ranges from 1000 to 6000 and a
good quality nylon frieze will have a density of about 2000 or more. For nylon
plush and textured styles a pile density of 2500 or more is considered
excellent.
Density is determined by pile yarn weight, pile thickness and
pile height. Think of it like a densely wooded forest where the trees are thick
and close together. The higher the density the more durable the carpet will be.
Dig your fingers into the pile of the carpet. Are the fibers tightly packed or
are your nails digging into the backing of the carpet? Thin threadbare carpets
are less expensive and don’t wear as well. Thick plush carpets are more
expensive and wear longer. But there is a limit to the durability if the carpet
pile is too tall.
Pile Height
If
the pile height is too tall the tufts may be more prone to falling over (matting
down) and that's what makes a carpet look worn out. for plush and textured plush
styles,
I think a pile height of up to one inch is
acceptable as long as the density is over 2000. For a frieze, I would not go
over 3/4" high. The nature of frieze is for the tufts to look a bit
wild but when the tufts are too tall they look like they are matted down.
I recommend using a carpet rake to help lift
and fluff up the tufts periodically if you select a frieze style. A carpet rake
is available online for about $40.
Tuft Twist
The tuft twist number is the key to having
your carpet retain its like new appearance longer. The tuft twist is based on
the number of twists per lineal inch per tuft. The twist numbers range from 3 to
9.
With plush styles of
carpets, the tufts of fibers are twisted in the same way that people curl their
hair. The carpet fibers are grouped together into tufts and twisted while heat
is applied to "set" the fibers permanently, hence the term "heat
set". The tighter the fibers are twisted the better.
Lower twist carpets (3
to 4) tend to untwist or “blossom” at the yarn tips creating a worn out or
matted down appearance more quickly. For this reason a carpet with a higher
twist count will retain its like-new appearance longer. When comparing carpets side by side,
you must consider the tuft twist to help you determine which carpet is the
better choice.
Inexpensive
carpets with low tuft twist will lose their "twist" quickly and will mat down and look
ugly.
There is more
to comparing carpets than revealed here and scams that you need to avoid. Order my ebook
to get complete carpet information and powerful money-saving advice.
What Grade of Carpet Should
YOU Select?
With all these carpet specifications to consider,
where do you begin?
1.
What
grade of Carpet should I buy?
You need to determine the level of foot
traffic in your home so you know what grade you need to buy. Take
my free Carpet
Foot Traffic Test
2.
How
much does Carpet cost?
You need have a basic idea about how much
you could potentially spend on various grades of carpet. Check
out my Basic
Carpet Cost Guideline
3.
How
long does Carpet Last?
Now you need to figure out how long you want
your carpet to last. This is totally up to
you! Some carpets are designed to last 3 years, some for 30. The price you
pay will be determined by the grade and quality you select. See my chart
about current Carpet
Prices vs longevity.
4.
How much
Carpet do I need?
Most people don't have a clue how to measure for carpet. It is
important that you get an accurate measurement so you don't pay more than
you need to. Here is a quick way for you to get a close estimate of the
amount of carpet your need: How to Measure
for Carpet yourself.
5.
Where
should I buy Carpet?
I have spent countless hours searching for reputable
carpet dealers to place in my directory. Visit my Preferred
Carpet Dealer Directory
to see which carpet stores I prefer near you.
To sum it all up consider;
Your Level of Foot
traffic (Light - Medium - Moderate - Heavy)
Take a good hard look at your level of
foot traffic to help determine the grade of carpet you need to buy and match it up
with the current prices for that grade of carpet and consider the number of years
you expect
it to last.
When you take all this information into
consideration, then you take a good hard look at the logistics of your
lifestyle, needs, goals and budget to come up with a good estimate as to what it
will cost you to buy the right grade of carpet for you.
You might need to adjust a few things a little
bit to make it all work. Most people are surprised at how much a good quality
carpet costs. This means you might have to sacrifice longevity to keep the
carpet within your budget, or you may have to do half of the house now and do
the other half after you save a little more money. The worst thing you can do is
to buy a carpet that cannot meet your needs and goals.
Alan's Carpet Buying Advice is Featured
on HGTV.com
You might think that you
will learn enough by surfing the internet and adding up all
the information to make a smart carpet purchase, but there
is some valuable information in my ebook that is NOT
available anywhere on the internet that could surely help
you save hundreds, avoid scams and choose more wisely. I
guarantee it or your money back.
Alan's
Complete Carpet Buying Guide
By
Alan J. Fletcher
Learn
Everything
You Need to Know about Buying New Carpet!
If
the pile height is too tall the tufts may be more prone to falling over (matting
down) and that's what makes a carpet look worn out. for plush and textured plush
styles, 
