TUFTED CARPETS

Twist Pile

Twist pile carpets are among the most popular styles at this moment in time. Whilst almost all carpet yarns are twisted to some degree, these products derive their name from an additional amount of twist given to the fibres. The extra twisting makes the finished yarn act like a spring and consequently it springs back into shape once walked upon giving it excellent pile recovery.

The pile heights are generally kept relatively low which reduces flattening and keeps shading to a minimum. The range of colours available is excellent making it a designer's dream to work with.

Suitable For
LOUNGE	HALL	STAIRS	BEDROOM	KITCHEN	BATHROOM

Cut Pile

Many carpets with a smooth, single level surface fall into the cut pile category. Usually the carpet is manufactured white then the colour and design are printed on. The dense pile is cut and sheared to provide a smooth surface. The use of heat to set the yarn helps to give good appearance retention.

Production is efficient, which keeps cost of manufacture down tremendously. Due to modern printing techniques the designs and colours are excellent. Exceptionally dense piles with a very smooth finish are know as velvets whilst less dense cut pile carpets with a slightly longer pile height are known as plush piles which are often used in bedrooms.

These are good all-round products that perform well although cut pile carpets can be subject to shading (see Saxony, below)

Suitable For
LOUNGE	HALL	STAIRS	BEDROOM	KITCHEN	BATHROOM

Saxony

Saxonys or American Saxonys, as they are often referred to, have a much higher pile than other types of carpeting. This gives it a very luxurious feel underfoot and the colours available are fabulous. The twisted yarn is usually "heat set" to give better appearance retention.

Because of the luxurious deep pile these carpets do shade creating the effect of light and dark areas (like running your hand across velvet curtains). Many people like this effect because it demonstrates how luxurious the carpet is, whilst others hate it! As a result we have indicated which of the carpets in the UKCarpetsdirect superstore are particularly prone to shading. Often these carpets are also chosen for their excellent sound insulation and because they are very safe for young children to play on.

Suitable For
LOUNGE	HALL	STAIRS	BEDROOM	KITCHEN	BATHROOM

Loop Pile

Loop pile carpets are manufactured both from wool and man made fibres. As the name suggests they are rows of continuous loops, a little like knitting. The loop forms a type of mini spring which, once walked upon, springs back into shape. This makes the carpet extremely durable and gives it excellent appearance retention.

On the down side wool loops can suffer from "pilling" (bobbles on top of the pile), and you need to be careful with pet claws and high heels as the loops can get snagged. Loop pile carpets are also less luxurious than other styles. New construction methods however are producing exciting new designs in loop pile carpets particularly in natural finishes 

Whilst loop pile carpets will wear well in almost any location, some people prefer not to use them on stairs because the backing can show through on the nose of the stairs (known as "grinning").

Suitable For
	LOUNGE	HALL	STAIRS	BEDROOM	KITCHEN	BATHROOM
Wool
Man Made

Cut 'n' Loop and Sculptured Carpets.

Cut 'n' Loop are literally a combination of cut pile and loop pile carpets. This mix is used to produce high and low areas to the pile, which creates a sculptured effect. The result is a carpet which is plain (i.e. uses only one colour) whilst also having a patterned design. Often an "overprint" is then placed on these carpets to further enhance the design. Cut 'n' Loop carpets are produced almost entirely from man made fibres. The colourways available are tremendous and add style and colour to all rooms.

The cut pile does mean that shading can occur in these carpets. Similar to loop pile carpets, some people prefer not to use cut 'n' loop carpets on stairs.

Suitable For
LOUNGE	HALL	STAIRS	BEDROOM	KITCHEN	BATHROOM

WOVEN CARPETS

Woven Axminsters & Wilton Carpets

Axminsters are one of the two most traditional methods of manufacturing carpets. It is a much slower method of production than tufting and is used to produce a very high quality product.

Axminsters are made almost entirely out of wool or wool man made mixes, which makes them exceptionally durable and hard wearing. Traditional Wiltons are constructed using similar raw materials to Axminsters but using a slightly different method. What is important is the benefits these two constructions offer the consumer.

Unlike tufted carpets where the design is printed onto the surface of the carpet, the pattern is "woven in" using different coloured yarns. This produces a much better definition of the design and appearance retention is excellent. Designs available are both traditional and modern in many colours giving a wide selection for any room. Qualities do vary depending on the types of wool used and the density of the pile.

A good Axminster or Wilton, if looked after, will last for many years.

Modern day woven Wiltons have all the characteristics of Traditional Wiltons & Axminsters as regards colours and design, but are produced on high speed machinery using man-made fibres (typically polypropylene) which makes then much more affordable (see Fibres for more information). Whilst such products are not as durable as their wool counterparts they represent exceptionally good value for money.

The pile is kept relatively short on most woven products so flattening is kept to a minimum making them suitable for all living areas. In certain qualities and designs some shading will be seen.

Suitable For
LOUNGE	HALL	STAIRS	BEDROOM	KITCHEN	BATHROOM

CARPET FIBRES

There are many different names for fibres used in the manufacture of carpeting, but the vast majority fall into four distinct categories: wool, (or wool man made mix), nylon (polyamide), polypropylene and polyester. The names may be familiar to you but what the differences are between each one may not.

Wool (Wool/Nylon Mix)

Wool is still regarded by most to be the best fibre used in carpet manufacture for the simple reason that in most cases it will look better for longer than equivalent carpets made out of other fibres. With its natural resilience it recovers quickly from compression. It takes dye very well which enables many variations of shades to be produced and is very soft to touch, making it warm and comfortable to walk on. It retains a degree of natural stain resistance, making it easier to maintain and has naturally low flammability properties, which make it safer for the home.

Usually wool is mixed with nylon in an 80% wool, 20% nylon ratio, (carpets using this combination are often referred to as 80:20s). This combines the benefits of wool with the excellent wearing characteristics of nylon to produce a more durable carpet.

Unfortunately wool is also more expensive than most other carpet fibres.

Nylon (Polyamide)

Nylon is the hardest wearing carpet fibre and possibly one of the most misunderstood. Unfortunately nylon developed a poor reputation as a carpet fibre in its early days. Today however, nylon yarns are some of the best available on the market. Nylon products have exceptional wear qualities and fibre dyes extremely well giving a vast array of colours and shades to choose from. The problem of static build-up has been eradicated in most nylon yarns and when protected with stain resistant treatments nylon can easily be cleaned and maintained.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is being used more and more widely in the manufacture of carpeting due to its high resilience to wear and stain proof properties.

During manufacture of the yarn it is dyed to the colour required; this is locked in and cannot be removed. It can also not be re-dyed, consequently it is stain proof and all marks can be removed. In extreme cases a dilute bleach solution can be used to remove stains. Polypropylene yarns are also highly resistant to fading. Polypropylene has low electro-static build-up and consequently does not attract dirt and dust or give you those nasty shocks. As demand has increased for polypropylene the colour banks have improved dramatically and now offer an excellent choice.

This is possibly the best choice for families where stain resistance is an important consideration.

Polyester

Polyester is not so widely used as the previous products, namely due to its cost. However it is hard wearing and cleans well. It is soft to handle and feels luxurious under foot.

If you require more information on how to choose a carpet please e-mail us with your questions.

BUDGET

When setting your budget there are several other products you must take into consideration besides the price of the carpet.You can E-mail or phone to arange a home visit to choose your carpet, however, the following are all items or services you may wish to consider for the best results to be achieved.

Underlay

Most carpets require underlay. A good underlay will support your carpet prolonging its life and maintaining its good looks. Underlays provide luxury and comfort as well as sound and heat insulation. 

Gripperrods

Gripperrods or smoothedge, as it is often known, is required for "hard-backed" carpets (by that it is meant any carpet which does not have a built-in underlay).

It is fitted around the perimeter of the room and the carpet is stretched over it and tucked between the rod and the skirting board. The pins hold the carpet tightly in place and give a neat smooth finish unlike old-fashioned methods, which shows where each nail has been placed. Gripperrods can be purchased from most carpet or DIY stores.

 Door Plates

Doorplates are used to neatly finish the carpet off and prevent fraying of raw edges. The two main finishes are aluminium or synbrass, and are produced in numerous profiles to join any two types of material together.

Fitting service

You can be assured that the quality of fitting will be to the very best standard as i do all the fitting myself.