Facts to Consider when choosing Carpet
- Most carpets are manufactured 3.66m wide (12ft) although a growing percentage of 4.00m wide carpets are coming onto the market. This is known as the broadloom width and as such the unit of measure in calculating carpet quantity is broadloom metres. There are rare examples of other width carpets. The quantity of carpet required should always be calculated in broadloom metres and never in square metres. The calculations are based on how the broadloom width of a carpet fits to the required areas and not simply a calculation of area.
- All cut pile carpets are subject to shading. Pressure on the pile during use will cause the pile to lay in different directions, resulting in light refraction. This makes the carpet appear, from certain angles, lighter or darker. Shading is usually most predominant in a cut pile plush and very thick cut pile twist carpets.
- All carpet will appear lighter in a big piece on the floor. This should be considered when choosing from samples. It is recommended that the sample should be viewed in different lighting conditions at the installation site.
- All carpet production runs will be of a different colour batch or dye lot. Manufacturing standards dictate that all dye lots must be with-in +/-5% of the master sample. The master sample is not the same as shop samples, however shop sampling is usually produced from dye lots which are very close to the master sample.
- Stain protection is in varying levels on the differing types of carpet depending on their content.
- Synthetic carpets are better suited to those with allergies as wool carpets release fibres.
- All carpets are effected by fading over time however some types of carpets are better suited to coastal properties, or those installed in an area located in full sunlight. Almost all synthetic carpets offer a colour fastness guarantee.
- Eco-Plus Carpets are made from Triextra (Sorona) and are the most environmentally friendly carpet on the market at present.
- Most carpets offer anti-static guarantees.
- All carpet has a pile direction or ‘nap’ and as such all carpet areas which join together must run in the same direction.
- Cross joins are a join in the carpet which run across the pile direction of the carpet. Cross joins are usually more visible than a ‘seam join’ which runs in the natural direction of pile rows. We do try to avoid cross joins, however this is not always possible or practical. We always endeavour to identify the most practical location to put joins in any area with aesthetics, traffic flow, lighting conditions & waste reduction in mind.
Carpet characteristics as per Carpet Institute of Australia fact sheet.
- Carpet will gradually change in appearance over time due to normal use and fading from exposure to ultra violet radiation and sunlight. While sunlight is the most common cause of fading, household chemicals can also contribute to change in colour. Similarly, high temperature and humidity conditions may accelerate the onset of fading. The Carpet Institute recommends that carpet be protected from sunlight by use of shading devices such as window reflective films, curtains, awnings and blinds.
- Pile reversal shading is an optimal effect – an apparent colour difference caused by light reflected or absorbed from disturbed carpet. When caused by foot marking and vacuuming, pile reversal shading is temporary and can be reversed by brushing the carpet in the normal direction of the pile lay.
- Watermarking or permanent pile reversal shading appears, generally after use. The cause is unknown and the phenomenon is unpredictable. Apart from affecting the appearance, it has no detrimental effect on the durability of the carpet.
- Carpet pile will flatten to some extent due to normal use. Regular vacuuming and periodic professional cleaning will reduce the degree of the flattening.
- Matting is a wear-induced characteristic that is seen as the merging together of carpet tufts to the stage where they may become less defined. Matting occurs in all carpets to some extent and is not considered manufacturing defect unless it occurs rapidly or to an unacceptable degree.
- Missing or damaged tufts in new carpet can be replaced by hand sewing. It is recommended that the carpet manufacturer be given an opportunity to manually replace missing tufts or small areas of tuft damage. A tuft repaired in this manner by an experienced technician should not detract from the quality or durability of the carpet.
- Shedding is the term used to describe the release from the carpet yarn of very small fibres that collect on the surface of the carpet. Shedding is activated by foot traffic and vacuuming and is usually only seen in new carpet installations. As a carpet ‘settles’ or ‘beds down’, shedding becomes less and less noticeable.
- Snagging is the forceful removal or distortion of tufts from a loop pile carpet. If snagging does occur, displaced tufts can be repaired on-site by an experienced technician.
- Manufacturing processes introduce stresses and pressures on the carpet structure in both the length and width directions. As a result, a repeating pattern may not exactly match along the length of the carpet across its width, particularly from one production run to another. An experience retailer will make every effort to achieve a reasonable pattern match.
- With good room ventilation, the so called ‘new carpet smell’ should disappear within approximately four days of the carpet being installed.
- Seam Peaking is normal when joined carpet is stretched into place. Lighting conditions accentuate a carpet seam and create the impression that the pile on the side closer to the light is a lighter shade than the pile on the other side of the join. Carpet seams are never invisible.
- Shift lines are parallel lines that appear at regular intervals on the surface of the patterned loop pile carpets. These lines are due to the nature of construction and are sometimes more apparent with ‘large’ designs and patterns. Shift lines are not to be considered a manufacturing defect.
For further information, we suggest visiting the Carpet Institute of Australia website. https://www.carpetinstitute.com.au/