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Twist Pile
Suitable for:
| | Twist pile carpets are one of the most popular styles at this moment.
While almost all carpet yarns are twisted to some degree, this product get's its name from an extra amount of twist given to the fibers. This extra twisting makes the finished yarn act like a spring and will jump back into shape when it's walked on.
The pile heights are kept relatively low which reduces the flattening of the carpet and keeps shading to a minimum.
The range of colors available is excellent making it a designer's dream to work with. |
Cut Pile
Many carpets with a smooth, single level surface are falling in the category: Cut Pile.
Normally this carpet is created white and later a color and design are printed on it.
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, so it keeps the cost of manufacture down tremendously.
Thanks to modern printing techniques, the designs and colors are very good.
Extreme dense piles with a very smooth finish are known as velvets, while less dense cut pile carpets with a slightly longer pile height are known as plush piles and are often used in bedrooms.
They are good all-round products that remain very well although cut pile carpets can show some shading. | | 
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Saxony
Suitable for:
| | Saxony has a much higher pile than other types of carpeting.
This gives it a very luxurious feel under the feet and the colors available are great. The twisted yarn is "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, while others hate it.
These carpets are also chosen for their excellent sound insulation and because they are very safe for young children to play on. |
Loop pile & Multi-height loop pile
Loop pile carpets are manufactured from both wool and manmade fibers.
As the name suggests they are rows of continuing loops, reminding a little of knitting. The loop forms a type of mini spring that when you walk on it, will spring 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" and you need to be careful with pet claws and high heels as the loops can easily be "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.
Modern innovations have now led to the emergence of many 'multi-height' loop pile carpets that are available in a variety of different textured effects and designs, adding interest to this type of carpet that was previously typically only available in plain shades.
While loop pile carpets go well in almost any location, some people prefer not to use them on stairs because the backing can show through on the front of the stairs (also known as "grinning"). | | 
Wool is suitable for:
Man made is suitable for:
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Cut-n-Loop and Sculptured Carpets
Suitable for:
| | Cut-n-Loop carpets are a combination of cut pile and loop pile carpets.
This mix is used to produce high and low areas to the pile, that will create a sculptured effect. The result is a one colored/plain carpet while also having a patterned design. Often an "overprint" is then placed on these carpets to further enhance the design.
Cut-n-Loop carpets are mostly produced from man made fibers.
Cut pile does mean that shading can show in these carpets.
Like loop pile carpets, some people prefer not to use cut-n-loop carpets on their stairs. |
Woven Wiltons and Axminster
Woven Wiltons and Axminsters are two of the most traditional methods of manufacturing carpets.
They use a much slower method of production than tufting that produces a very high quality carpet.
Unlike tufted carpets, where the design is printed onto the surface of the carpet, Woven Wiltons feature patterns that are woven into the carpet using different colored yarns. This produces a much better definition of the design and the appearance retention is excellent.
Most modern day Wiltons are produced on high speed machinery using man-made fibers, mostly polypropylene, which makes them much more affordable.
Because Axminsters are made almost entirely out of wool or wool/ man-made mixes, they are exceptionally durable and hardly show wearing. The pile is kept relatively short on most woven products so flattening is also kept to a minimum making them suitable for all living areas.
In certain qualities and designs some shading might be seen. Qualities may vary depending on the type of wool used and the density of the pile.
A good Wilton or Axminster, will last for many years if taken good care of. | | 
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