Carpet Comparison
What makes one carpet better than another?
How to compare carpets
Generally speaking, carpet is graded by the materials used, the amount of fiber weight and how well it is constructed. To make it simple and easy to understand, let’s narrow it down to three basic characteristics: Fiber, Density and Twist. But first let me tell you a little about the fibers used to make carpet.
Carpet Fibers
What fiber you select will determine how long it lasts, how easily it can be cleaned and how much it costs. This is one of the most critical factors when comparing carpets. You cannot compare a nylon carpet to a polyester carpet, or a wool carpet to an Olefin carpet. This would be like comparing apples to oranges. You have to compare similar carpets and narrow it down to the one that meets your needs and lifestyle as well as your budget.
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers first produced in 1935 by the DuPont Company. As far as fibers go, Nylon is the most durable and the most resilient of all carpet fibers. A resilient fiber is defined as having the ability to return to its original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched. This is what keeps a nylon carpet looking like new longer than any other fiber. Nylon is one of the more expensive fibers second only to wool. I would consider choosing a Nylon carpet if longevity was my biggest concern.
Polyester is one of the least expensive fibers to manufacture. A thick polyester carpet may feel nice and soft, but it is not a resilient fiber, and it does not a make a long-lasting carpet. Polyester carpets mat down in a hurry, that has always been the problem with this fiber. When you walk on any carpet, with every footstep you bend and compress the fibers and soon they begin to fall over. Once polyester fibers are crushed, they don't spring back to their original position. This is why warranties for polyester carpets do not cover claims against matting or crushing. Don’t be fooled by salespeople who recommend carpets made with polyester. It is alright to buy a carpet made with polyester as long as you know what you are getting into and don’t pay a lot of money for it or have high longevity expectations. I wouldn't expect to get a lifespan of more than 5 years on a polyester carpet, regardless of its tuft twist, density rating or warranty limits. I might consider choosing a carpet made of polyester if I wanted to spend as little as possible on a carpet that looks nice for a very short amount of time.
Olefin (also called polypropylene) is a very strong fiber. It is often used to make Berber carpets, commercial carpets and outdoor grass carpets. Olefin wears well and has good stain resistance when anti-stain treatment is applied. Olefin has good anti-static properties. However, Olefin is not easy to keep clean and tends to look dingy when soiled. It has poor resiliency so smaller looped Berber styles wear better than larger looped styles. Commercial looped carpets wear very well, as the loops tend to be very small which leaves little room for the loops to become matted or crushed. Wheelchairs roll easily over commercial level loop Olefin carpets that are glued-down without padding and may be a good choice for handicapped areas, hospitals and retirement home applications. When comparing Berber carpets made of Olefin smaller loops, in a tighter weave will yield a longer wearing carpet.
Sorona®
DuPont™ is the leader in fiber technology and they have a new product on the market, a polymer made from corn. It was invented back in the 40’s but was too expensive to manufacture back then. Today with carpet prices rising due to higher oil prices it has become a viable product to produce.
DuPont™ calls this fiber Sorona®, a proprietary polymer with engineered stain protection that they claim will never wash off or wear off. With exceptional cleanability as its main claim to fame it will be a product that many consumers will want to have. I would consider selecting this type of fiber if stains and cleanability were my biggest concern.
DuPont™ and Sorona® are a trademark and a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
Wool and Wool Blends
Some carpets are offered with a blend of nylon and wool in varying amounts. Usually I see 20% nylon and 80% wool. This gives wool some of the characteristics of nylon like increased resiliency and durability as well as lower cost.
Wool carpets are considered the most elite of fibers and are the most expensive of all carpet fibers. Wool is a natural fiber and is very soft. It has excellent insulating qualities and is naturally fire resistant. Wool carpets must be professionally cleaned by specialized carpet cleaning methods and is more expensive to maintain and install than synthetic carpet styles. Comparing wool carpets based on price and quality can be more difficult because well known brand names can increase the cost dramatically and the quality may be more difficult to determine.
BCF, CF, Continuous Filament. If the carpet you are considering has the letters BCF, CF or states that it is made of a Continuous Filament strand, then you will be happy to know that you have chosen a carpet that will not shed or fuzz. However, if the carpet you select is NOT marked a BCF, CF or Continuous filament, then be prepared to vacuum up bags and bags of loose fibers, as it will be shedding and fuzzing for up to a year after being installed. You see, if the fiber is made in one continuous strand, then it doesn't shed or fuzz. But if your carpet is made with a "staple " fiber, it means that they used short lengths of fiber to make the carpet. These shorter lengths cause the carpet to shed and fuzz like crazy. You will swear that your carpet will be completely bald in a matter of weeks! I suggest you be sure to buy a carpet that is a continuous filament to save yourself from going crazy. This typically applies only to nylon and polyester Plush, Textured Plush, cut pile or Saxony style carpets. This is not an issue with Berbers or commercial carpets made with Olefin.
Carpet Density
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. I suggest a minimum density rating of 2500 if possible.
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.
Density is the weight of pile yarn in a unit volume of carpet. U.S. government FHA density (D), expressed in ounces per cubic yard is given by the formula:
D = W x 36 divided by T; in which D is density, W is pile yarn weight in ounces per square yard, and T is pile thickness or height in inches converted to a decimal.
Average carpet pile yarn density is:
W x 36
T
Examples:
A 40-ounce cut pile with ½ inch pile height (.50) would have a density of 2880
(40 X 36 = 1440 ÷ .50 = 2880)
A 45-ounce cut pile with ¾ inch pile height (.75) would have a density of 2160
(45 X 36 = 1620 ÷ .75 = 2160)
Of the two examples shown above, the 40-ounce cut pile carpet would wear better than the 45-ounce cut pile because the pile height is shorter making the pile denser. For this reason I suggest a minimum density rating of 2500 if possible.
Carpet 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.
Next check the fiber tuft twist. 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. Tuft twists of 5 to 6 is good, 7 to 9 is best. When comparing carpets side by side, you must consider the tuft twist to help you determine which carpet is the better choice.
If the carpet sample does not list the tuft twist then you can count the number of twists on each tuft or group of carpet fibers yourself. Five or more twists per lineal inch is good. Less than four is not as good. Inexpensive carpets with few twists will lose the "twist" on the tufts quickly and then the carpet will mat down and look bad. Frieze style carpets commonly have excellent "twist" and are known for being very durable and a longer lasting carpet. Check out a Nylon Frieze!
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