Carpet Depot carries products of all major carpet and flooring manufacturers, such as Shaw, Mohawk, Engineered Floors, Phenix, Milliken, and many more. Each of these manufacturers own many different mills, and each mill manufactures hundreds of variety of styles and colors of carpet, hardwood, regular and waterproof laminate, luxury vinyl plank and tile, and vinyl flooring materials for  residential, commercial and industrial purposes. The following information will help you to select the right flooring that is most suited for your lifestyle:

CARPET Types:

         The specific construction or manufacturing method of a carpet affects both its appearance and performance. Most carpets are made by one of the four methods: tufted, woven, needle-punched, or hand-knotted.

Tufted carpet is made on a high-speed machine that stitches big loops of yarn through the backing fabric.  A latex coating locks the loops in place, and then a secondary backing material is applied for strength and stability.  Over 90 percent of the broadloom carpet made in North America is tufted.  It's efficient, and less expensive to produce than woven carpet, and offers consumers a complete range of styling.

Woven carpet construction is similar to woven fabric. The pile, weft, and wrap yarns interlock on a loom, allowing for wide versatility of design.  Velvet plus, Axminster, and Wilton carpet are all woven.

Needle-punched carpet is made by punching layers of fiber through a mesh fabric by thousands of barbed needles. The result is a felt-like carpet.  This type of carpet was developed first for indoor-outdoor use.  It's relatively durable but limited in available styles.

Hand-knotted carpets and rugs have been made, mostly in wool, for centuries, primarily in the Middle East and China. Commonly referred to as Oriental rugs, they follow distinct traditions of color and pattern and are usually very expensive.

 

 

                                                                                                                                             

HOW TO BUY CARPET FOR REAL LIFE:

Selecting a carpet is an important process because it's a decorating investment you'll want to enjoy for years to come. Carpet Depot wants you to be able to be make a better-informed decision. This guide will give you basic information on carpet fibers and construction, how to judge equality and performance, and how to determine which carpet is best suited for each room or area.  By reading this information you'll soon understand the jargon of carpets.  And, most importantly, you'll gain the confidence to help select the best carpet for your decor, budget, and lifestyle.   

 

Carpet Styles:

Plush is a well sheared carpet which is tufted with very fine denier fiber that makes it a very soft and smooth and gives it a  formal look. Velvet plush carpets do not hide footprints well.

Loop or berber carpets with tufts of equal height or multi-level loops are marked by a continuous uncut surface that resists crushing and matting.  Multi-level loops form beautiful patterns using solid or multi colors.  Berber style loop carpets wear well and are suited for any room.             

Texture carpets, curled or twisted tufts make for a textured surface that helps mask footprints or vacuum marks. Textured carpets are suitable for less formal decors.   

Saxony carpets are densely tufted level-cut pile. Yarn tufts are closely packed, presenting a smooth, luxurious surface.  Generally for formal settings.            

Frieze carpets are a type of textured carpets with highly twisted tufts that curl at the pile surface.  Especially suitable for higher traffic areas. Frieze carpets are less likely to show vacuum marks or footprints than other cut pile styles.

 

 

Carpet Fibers:

Nylon is the most common and widely used fiber in construction of carpet.  The soft texture of nylon holds the color well, and depending on the stain protection used on it resists most food and beverage stains, and many oil-based stains.  Nylon carpet is easy to clean, however, depending on the dying system, is susceptible to fading in direct sun light.

Wool carpets are warm and durable, but can be damaged by alkaline cleaning detergents.  They are also available in fewer shades because they do not take bright color dyes well.  Wool carpets absorb moisture in the air and therefore are not recommended for high humid climates and around beaches. Wool carpets are normally more expensive than synthetic fibers.

 Polyester carpets, although normally not as soft as nylon, but are very durable and resilient. Polyester fibers have advanced tremendously in the past couple of decades, and today's PET (polyethylene terephthalate) polyester which is mostly recycled plastic bottles has the highest stain protection and resiliency. PET polyester carpets are naturally resistant to soiling and stains and this property can not be worn out or washed out in time.  PET fibers have a greater capability to accept dye, and therefore the color shades are richer, truer, and brighter than other yarns.  Since the color is added to PET fibers during the dyeing process, it provides excellent resistance to sun fading and harsh cleaning.  PET polyester carpets absorb almost no moisture and are recommended for beach homes, and homes with lots of sun light.

Polypropylene or Olefin carpets are extremely durable and moisture resistant.  Polypropylene or olefin fibers lack bounce and resiliency unless constructed densely.  Due to long durability of this yarn most commercial carpet are made with polypropylene, however in more limited selection of colors.

Natural Plant Fibers such as Sisal, which is mostly Mexican or Asian Agave species ( Agave Sisalana). This fiber is renowned for the strength of its long leaf fibers.  These fibers are harvested as an annual crop and then machine loomed into distinctive broadlooms. Coir, which is the tough, coarse fibers from the husk of the fruit of the coconut palm. After immersing the fibers in salt water for months, they then become pliable enough for spinning into yarn by hand. Then the yarn is machined loomed into heavy textured and durable broadloom. Reed is the tall perennial grasses of salt water marshes which is very strong and durable. Reed, or Seagrass, as it is also called, is harvested at the end of the growing season, and machine loomed into a natural material that evokes a feeling of warmth and shelter in winter and the touch of sun and airy breezes in summer.

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