Carpet Types

Backing types

foam rubber
- feels soft underfoot
- non-shrinking
- a layer of newspaper stops it sticking to the floor
hessian
- prone to shrink during cleaning
- prone to rot in damp locations
- benefits from underlay
felt
- a lower cost backing
sheet plastic
- waterproof, found on 'bathroom' carpets

Pile types

wool
wool/synthetic blend
synthetic
loop
cut pile
shag

Axminster

Wilton

Axminster & Wilton are manufacturing methods, not brand names.

Flotex

carpet tiles

Quality

Quality of carpet depends on

Pile density
- the more...
pile material mixture
- 70/30 and 80/20...
- 100% synthetic can generate static in summer
...

Buying carpet

New

Beware of the travelling sellers that show good quality specimens then fit cheaper carpet, claiming its what you ordered and paid for.

Used

Offcuts

Carpet fitting

gripper rod
- Method of choice for most carpet fitting jobs

tacks
- cheapie method
- results in uneven carpet edges
- small chance of tack impaling a wire or pipe

adhesive

stair rods
- a known risk factor for stair falls

stretching
- not needed for most domestic carpets

Carpet and Downlighters

Mixing downlighting with carpets is a recipe for very poor energy efficiency. The darker the carpet, the worse the result.

Carpet Styles

When you wish to create a certain style

Arabic

Minimalist

Practical
- soft patterns, never plain
- pile is mixed colours rather than areas of single colour
- mid to light colours in dull rooms
- fairly dark colours if very heavy use anticipated
- 70/30 wool synthetic blend for minimum wear

Victorian
- deep reds, blues,
- Flower patterns
- Geometric patterns
- Fine but fairly bold repetitive patterns
- Rugs and runners rather than fitted carpets
- Uncarpeted wooden floor borders often painted black
- Brass stair rods

Carpet in Vehicles

vehicle carpet is prone to condensation
Hessian backing does not last as well when damp is enountered
synthetic pile is most tolerant of damp.

Carpet in Bathrooms

Unpopular due to hygiene issues

If you want bathroom carpet, a carpet cleaner would be a good idea too.

Pick a non-shrink backing

Waterproof backing for suspended timber floors

Permeable backing for masonry floors with no dpc

Carpet Cleaning

Repair & Maintenance

Areas of flattened pile

Spray with water. Brush vigorously until pile stands up. Leave to dry

Fraying or shedding edges

To stop deterioration

hoover clean
cut away stragglers
apply latex glue to backing, eg Copydex.

To repair

cut out a rectangle of damage
cut a replacement piece of carpet from somewhere inconspicuous, eg under a sofa
Fix patch to trimmed damaged area using carpet tape
Or glue patch in place using latex
Apply latex to all cut edges to prevent fraying.

Carpet

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