Tips for Choosing

Lighter colours make the area look larger, although warm, earthy colours can make the room look cosy, especially if it’s north facing. A bit of a fleck makes the carpet more forgiving if you don’t want to be vacuuming every day (and who does?!)

A long trend for a neutral and natural look throughout the home, or office, is now being surpassed with colour and we have an excellent choice of colours, also great if you have a theme in mind for childrens’ or teenagers rooms.

If you feel like making a statement, stripes are very now. Wide stripes, narrow stripes, tonal or colourful they all have the benefits of a pattern (ie hiding the dirt!) but look very contemporary. Don’t worry about them dating quickly, because carpet fashions stay around for several years.

Natural loop pile carpets look chic in a dining room and since they are evening rooms you might like to be more daring with the colour scheme, or even a pattern. Many loop pile carpets have a natural pattern in the weave, such as ribbed, herringbone, chequered or striped, and give the effect of coir and sisal without the drawbacks. Loop pile also incorporates the hard wearing, and ever popular, cord style ranges.

Fancy a new look? Come in store to be inspired…

Carpet Cleaning Tips

Spillages are more easily removed if tackled immediately so act promptly and blot off all the liquid stain with dry kitchen roll or a clean dry white cloth.  Semi solid substances should be removed with a plastic spatula.

For stain removal, don’t rub the pile surface of your carpet or over soak the stain.

To clean off any remaining carpet stain use a clean damp cloth soaked in warm water to blot the stain.  Use a dabbing action with the cloth and then blot out the remaining liquid with dry kitchen towel. 

Always work from the outside of the stain inwards to minimise the stain spreading.

However, if your carpet does end up with a stain that you just can’t seem to get rid of, then it’s best to get expert stain removal advice and help regarding the specific substance responsible.

For effective carpet cleaning, follow these general rules below for dealing with spillages.  For more persistent stains and difficult to deal with carpet stain removal, contact a professional carpet cleaner.

Carpet Maintenance

The key to good carpet maintenance is to avoid particles of loose dirt and dust from working their way into the carpet pile where they will act abrasively on the fibres and sometimes discolour the carpet.

Vacuum your new carpet regularly at least two or three times a week.

Loop pile carpet should be vacuumed with a cylinder cleaner using the suction head only.

Cut pile carpets should be vacuumed with an upright cleaner with beater bar and brush.

A large, strong doormat will reduce dirt from outside being spread around the house.

Avoid where possible laying light colour carpets next to external entrances.

Pilling

Sometimes, with loop pile carpets, small balls of fibre can collect on the surface of the pile, which is called ‘pilling’ – much the same as what happens to our woolly jumpers!  Pilling can be dealt with effectively by just snipping the bobbles off with scissors.

Shedding

Most carpets made with spun yarn lose some short, excess fibres when they’re first fitted.  This ‘shedding’ is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about, and definitely not a sign of faulty or defective carpet.  After vacuuming several times, the shedding stops completely.

Fading

Protection should be given to carpets exposed to direct sunlight just as you would protect other furnishings.  Fading on carpets (particularly wool) is caused by the exposure to ultraviolet light but is accelerated when the sunlight shines directly onto ..

Shading and Pile Reversal

During use, the appearance of cut pile carpets can change due to the pile changing direction and reflection of light from the pile surface resulting in the creation of light and dark patches on the carpet.

This occurs on all pile fabrics but it’s more noticeable on plain carpets because the shadows created by pile pressure aren’t disguised by a pattern or design.

It can happen with every kind carpet, whether it’s Axminster, Wilton, Tufted, Handwoven, or even Oriental, Persian and Indian rugs.

BENEFITS OF CARPET

There are all kinds of benefits to having carpet on your floor.  Modern carpets can make a positive difference to your family life in many ways, lowering your heating bills, updating your living space with a new splash of colour – and no one ever got a splinter from sitting on a carpet!

Hygiene

Contrary to popular misconception, carpet is actually much more hygienic than you may think.  The presence of airborne dust is far lower in carpeted rooms because is actually traps allergens and dust particles which are easily removed with regular vacuuming.

Value

Quality carpet is actually easier and more affordable to have fitted and replaced than most other floor coverings.

Versatile

Carpets, unlike other floor covering, do not always require a perfectly level surface, saving you money on potential new sub-floor treatments.

Air Quality

Compared to all other home furnishing products, a new carpet emits some of the lowest levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into our homes, especially when compared with most paint and varnish.

Lower Energy Bills

Good quality carpet and underlay not only provide another layer of padding to your home, but also act as an extra layer of insulation lowering your winter fuel bills.

Colourful

Carpet is available in a huge variety of colours, patterns and textures, enabling you to make it the main focus of a room or the perfect foundation for all your ..

Comfy and Cosy

Carpet is far more comfortable, cosier and much warmer .. No one ever got cold feet from walking on a carpet!

Sound Insulation

The sound insulation effect of a carpet can create a calmer, quieter atmosphere in your home.  It reduces surface noise from foot traffic and absorbs sound from both within the room and between floors.

PLANNING & FITTING

Budgeting

It’s always good to have a rough idea of how much carpet you'll require fitting before you visit your local retailer.  However, it you can’t find your tape measure, your local carpet retailer will be more than happy to visit your home and measure the required rooms for you.

The main dimensions you need to think about are the overall width and length of the room you would like to buy carpet for, making sure you take into account any big variations in the room’s shape and any recesses like doorways and bay windows.

When you have these dimensions, you can use our simple carpet calculator to work out the approximate amount of carpet your room requires, to give you an idea of the price per square metre of carpet within your budget.  Don’t forget that you may also need to allow for fitting the carpet and underlay.

Function

The location and use of your carpet is an important factor in your selection process.  It’s no use selecting an expensive luxury carpet for the hallway if there will be constant foot traffic, so before visiting your local retailer ask yourself the following questions:

What room is the carpet for?
What’s this room mainly used for?
How much foot traffic will be passing through?
Is this room going to be the focus of family activity?
Will there be pets or children spending a lot of time in this room?
Is the carpet exposed to direct sunlight daily?
Is it near a main doorway or an entrance with direct access from outside?

Installation

Once you’ve selected your carpet from you local retailer, they’ll provide you with a fully inclusive quote, also including a professional measuring service if required.  When you have accepted a quote from your retailer, your carpet can normally be obtained and installed within two weeks.

Carpet Underlay

Whilst not all carpets need underlay, it’s always a good idea to consider it for those carpets which do.  Underlay acts as a cushion to the continual foot traffic within your home and protects against the pile flattening.  Although you don’t see your carpet underlay, you’ll certainly notice its effects.  New carpet underlay also increases your carpet’s heat and sound insulation qualities considerably.  If you have under floor heating, ensure that when fitting carpet you use an underlay with a good thermal conductivity rating.

CARPET STYLES

Tufted

With advances in manufacturing technology, 95% of all carpet produced today is tufted.  It takes about an hour to make a roll of carpet that might take eight hours to weave.  To make tufted carpet, hundreds of yarn-threaded needles are pushed through the primary backing fabric to form loops or tufts, which may be left as is or cut.  A heavy adhesive coating is applied to hold the tufts in place and a secondary backing is usually glued on for strength and stability.  A wide variety of styles and textures can then be created using various techniques.

Woven

Woven carpet may be in a tiny minority of today’s production but still produces some of the finest carpets which are used for prestigious installations.

Axminster

The pile of the carpet is inserted into the backing as it is woven and cut to length, creating U-shaped tufts to give a velvety surface. The process locks in the fibre to create a carpet of high durability and performance retention as well as a luxury feel. The process allows for intricate designs and colours to be used – although modern trends means the traditional patterned axminster has given way to current fashion trends for plain carpets.

Wilton

Wilton woven carpets are produced in a similar way to axminsters – the principal difference being that a continuous fibre is woven all the way through. The carpet can be sheared to create a range of cut and loop textured effects. The result is a high quality carpet of unrivalled durability.

Flat weave

Manufactured in the same way as wilton, flat weave is a loop pile which allows the yarn to be woven across a wider area to created a flatter, more textured effect.

LOOP PILE

Berber

Berber carpets look like and are named after a handmade, bulky wool carpet made by the Berber tribes of North Africa and Asia.  The loops are made from thick or bulk yarns of wool, nylon, polypropylene or a blend of these fibres to give a cushioned effect underfoot.  These carpets are available in an assortment of colours and may be flecked and can be either level loop or multilevel loop.

Level Loop

When all the loops are of the same height, a highly flexible and durable carpet is created which has a natural, casual appearance even when (commonly) it is made from synthetic fibres.  The tight loop texture tends to hid marks so it’s a good blend between luxury and practicality.

Multi-Level Loop

The loops vary to two or sometimes three loop heights to create informal, random texture which are very forgiving for marks and stains and therefore very suitable for high traffic areas and busy family rooms.

CUT PILE

Freize

Freize (pronounced free-say) carpet are similar to Saxony, but the yarns are more tightly twisted and should always be heat set.  They have a dense, low pile surface which creates a coarse, pebbly texture.  Frieze carpets are very durable and hide footprints, dust and dirt which makes them suitable for heavy traffic areas.

Saxony

Saxony textures are made of twisted yarns, which should be heat set.  The tips remain very distinct, rather than blending together to form a very elegant finish.  Saxony textures show footprints and vacuum marks so are suitable for more occasional rooms in the home.  More textured variations improve the practicality of saxonies.

Twist

The popular twist carpet is the cut-pile standard.  The yarn is tightly twisted and often heatset to retain this feature and the result is a versatile, textured finish that is ideal for plain colours.

Velvet

Velvet textures (sometimes called ‘velour’ or ‘plush’) all have a level surface pile of approx 5mm to 10mm height, which is then sheared to give a smooth finish.  With very little twist in the yarn, the ends blend together which then further enhances the overall finish.  These carpets tend to ‘shade’ with heavy use.  Footprints show easily and the colour looks different from place to place because fibres lying in different directions reflect the light differently.  A luxury for occasional rooms.

CUT AND LOOP

When some of the pile and other left as loop, a variety of surface textures and patterns can be created (in a variety of colours).  The multi-level surface is excellent for hiding footprints and stains so cut and loop is good for high traffic areas and general purpose rooms in the home.

Shag Pile

Shag pile has varied in popularity.  The pile is up to 50mm long and the texture is casual and loose but the surface flattens easily and lacks durability.

BONDED

Bonded carpets (sometimes called ‘fibre bonded’ or ‘fusion bonded’) are created by firing fibres into an adhesive material – the fibres are not stitched into the backing in any way.  The technique is principally used for commercial carpet tiles.

UNDERLAY

BENEFITS

Good underlay will...

- Improve underfoot comfort
- Increase appearance retention, reducing flattening
- Absorb the pressure of foot traffic and reduce wear
- Improve thermal insulation and warmth
- Increase sound insulation
- Smooth out sub-floor imperfections
- Last the lifetime of the carpet

Poor or old underlay will...

- Feel hard and unwelcoming
- Reduce carpet life
- Cause wrinkling and premature wear spots
- Cause carpet fibres to break down more quickly
- Not meet British Standards

How thick?

A maximum of 12mm is recommended (working with gripper will be difficult thereafter) but rooms with heavy traffic will need thinner, denser pad.  The combination of thickness and density is all important as a thick underlay with low density may not perform well.  Typically, the thicker the underlay, the better quality it will need to be – 11mm is often used for luxury installations with 9mm and 7mm the common domestic thickness.

TYPES

Sponge rubber

The market’s most popular underlay is available in flat or waffle patterns in a wide range of weights for different applications.  It performs well for comfort and has a durable spring retention.

PU (polyurethane) foam

PU foam is a relative newcomer to the market, typically made from recycled foam offcuts.  The foam provides excellent comfort and performance levels with lots of thickness options – and its light weight helps handling.  The product can be re-cycled again after use.

Crumb rubber

Flat and dense, crumb rubber is good for heavy footfall – offering maximum protection but a little less comfort (and very good over stair nosings).

Laminate underlay

There’s still an opportunity to sell underlay with laminate flooring, improving the acoustic performance of the floor and helping the boards float above any imperfections in the sub-surface.

Combination

A rubber crumb base with a felt layer offers a good combination of protection, durability and comfort.  It also allows carpet with seaming to bed into the top felt.

Underfloor heating underlay

Always ask if there is underfloor heating.  Most manufacturers offer specialised products.  Underlay and carpet with a combined tog rating up to 2.5 can be used – which means the underlay  would normally have a tog rating of 1.0.

Felt 

This traditional (but environmentally friendly) underlay is made from recycled fibres – wool, jute and synthetic – to create a firm, dense pad with excellent thermal insulation.  Still a very popular choice among contractors when stretch fitting woven carpets.

Pre-tackified underlay

A self-adhesive single stick underlay in both needlefelt and PU.  A removable system for heavy use when comfort is desired.

CARPET TROUBLE-SHOOTER

Colour matching

Carpets are produced in batches – known as creels – and usually each batch produces between 500m2 – 3000m2 in a single width, depending on the creel size.  Whilst the recipe used by the dyer remains constant, and is followed to the letter, in each separate production the colour reproduction will vary from batch to batch.  However, production is matched back to the original or master sample to ensure that the colour remains ‘within a commercial tolerance’.

This process is not an exact science and a commercial tolerance is subjective but nevertheless is usually the professional judgement of the head dyer based on his/her experience.  

A greater level of tolerance is required on blended colours (Heathers etc).  To ensure perfect colour matching it is advisable that a single width be used in any installation requiring exact colour matching.

NB Carpets which are laid with the pile travelling in different directions, even though they be from the same batch will appear not to match.

For further information please check with the manufacturers recommendations.

Samples

The samples held by individual retailers may not be from the same batch as current production and therefore should be used as a guide and not an exact colour match.

Shedding

All cut pile carpets will lose short fibre, which is created during production when spun yarn is cut for tuft formation.  These fibres fall onto the surface of the pile and appear as ‘fluff’.  

The effect varies with yarn type and may be removed without detrimental effect upon the carpet by vacuum cleaning.  This excess fibre is only a small fraction of the total fibre contained in the carpet.

Pulled loops

Pulled loops occur only in looped pile carpet where one or more loops in the continuous pile is pulled through the primary backing of the carpet.  This is usually due to some local condition, possible some sharp object which has caught in a loop in situ and has resulted in a pull.  Pulled loops are easily dealt with by trimming the offending end level with the rest of the pile.  They should not be left as this could result in further loops being pulled and developing into a ladder.

Sprouting

Occasionally an odd tuft or two can work its way to the surface and stand proud of the rest of the pile.  This is probably due to one end of the tuft being longer than the other ie; J shaped tuft instead of V shaped.  Remedial action merely requires that the offending tufts be scissor trimmed level with the rest of the pile.  They should never be pulled out.

Shading

Shading occurs because the pile of the carpet has become crushed, flattened or brushed in a different direction to the natural lie of the pile whilst in situ.  This causes light reflection at differing angles resulting in the creation of light and dark patches on the carpet.  This will occur on all pile fabrics but can be more noticeable on plainer carpets because the shadows created by pile pressure will not be disguised by a heavy pattern or design.

Static

Carpets to not produce static but like other household fabrics and objects have the capacity to store it.  Static is caused by the build up of static electricity upon personnel in a dry environment and is discharged when a person makes contact with an object which can conduct electricity (ie; door handle or filing cabinets, etc).

The static charges will vary in intensity depending upon the individual, air humidity and the contact materials.  Static is more usually associated with synthetic materials as they do not retain moisture very well but it can and does occur with wool in very dry room conditions.  

Preventative measures include the introduction of moisture into the room or in situ carpet treatment.

Fading on wool

Carpets made from wool can and do fade in use.  The degree of fade can vary depending on the colour chosen and the local conditions to which the carpet is subjected.
Fading can be caused by exposure to ultra violet light which is found in daylight, but is accelerated when sunlight shines directly onto the carpet.  This has the effect of lightening or ‘Bleaching’ the colour just as exposure to sunlight will lighten human hair.  Wool is after all animal hair.

Protection should be given to carpets exposed to such conditions just as you would protect other furniture or fabrics.

A complaint on fading would be considered justified if it failed to meet the required shade standard when tested to the British Standard BS1006 (1990).

Pile reversal

Like shading, this occurs when the pile or nap of the carpet changes direction and thus reflects the light at different angles showing the effects of shading which can become permanent.  It is also described as ‘watermarking’.  This can happen to every carpet construction be it Axminster, Wilton, Tufted, Hand Woven, Persian, Chinese, Indian or even Coir Matting.  Like shading it can be more apparent on plain carpet because heavy patterns can disguise the effects.  It can occur quite quickly after insulation.  A tremendous amount of research has been carried out over many years by many institutes to determine the cause of this phenomenon but none of it has proven conclusive.  There is also no commonly known manufacturing process which can cause or cure this phenomenon and therefore it is not a manufacturing fault.  For further information please check with individual manufacturers recommendations.

Indentations

When a carpet is subjected to a heavy point load, such as under the legs of furniture, it is unreasonable to expect the carpet not to indent.  Usually, the longer the load is in place, the longer will be the time for the pile to recover.  In the case of very heavy loads in place for a considerable time, the recovery time can be very considerable.

It must be remembered that it is not only pile of the carpet that becomes indented, the underlay will also indent and the backing of the carpet may also distort into the indentation in the underlay.  Some underlay’s will recover well and some less well depending upon their composition, thickness, density, etc.

The use of cups below furniture legs can spread the load and the net result is a large area of less deeply indented carpet.

The ability of a carpet to recover from a heavy static load can be measured in the laboratory, using the test method described in BS4939 and many manufacturers will have data on this aspect of carpet performance.  In this test the carpet is loaded for 24 hours and the degree of recovery is measured after 1 hour and 24 hours.  Since there are so many different underlays, however, it is very rare for the recovery from a heavy static load to be evaluated on carpet and underlay.

Often normal maintenance (vacuum cleaning with a rotating brush machine) will speed up recovery but in the case of serious indentations the use of an iron and damp cloth or a steam iron together with a blunt darning needle to carefully tease up the pile can be beneficial.  Care must be taken not to over wet the carpet, of course.

Flattening

Flattening will occur as a result of traffic which eventually flattens the pile particularly in the main areas of use.  All pile fabrics will flatten to greater or lesser degree dependent on the amount of traffic to which it is subjected and the construction (tuft density/pile fibre/height/weight) of the product concerned.

Soiling

Soiling is usually the result of some local condition to which the carpet has been subjected, or maintenance, or lack of maintenance programme.  There is nothing we as manufacturers can do to prevent soiling in use.  There are several types of soiling which are quite common:

Spillages – Liquids such as soft drinks, cordials or any drink which contains sugar, particularly hot drinks, is likely to leave a stain.  In such instances, professional help should be sought.

Shampoo – If incorrectly applied, can leave sticky soap residue in the fibres which can result in the soiling reappearing quite rapidly.

Dust – Which is carried on draughts can soil carpets in various ways, apart from the obvious soiled edges, at gaping skirting boards for instance, dark lines appearing on the surface might suggest airborne dust vacuum-drawn through poorly fitted floorboards.  Sometimes the shape of the floorboards can be seen quite clearly.  Air borne dust sometimes shows itself as spots on the carpet, this is due to the air carried on a draught under the carpet escaping through minute holes both in the underlay and the carpet, leaving dust deposited on the pile much like a filter action.  In such installations, the use of a lining paper is essential as a preventative measure.

It is the responsibility of the retailer to advise the consumer when the carpet is measure of any poorly fitting doors, skirtings or floorboards and the consumer’s responsibility to ensure any remedial work is seal draughts, is carried out before the carpet is fitted, if a resulting complaint is to be avoided.