Guide
Carpet
Shopping for carpet can be very overwhelming if you don’t know a thing about it – it’s our job to make that easier for you!
Find out what is the best carpet for your renovation needs and don’t forget you can always chat to our knowledgeable staff instore and they will be more than happy to help you.
- Carpet Styles, Texture & Materials
- Carpet FIbre Types
- Carpet Characteristics
Carpet Styles, Texture & Materials
Cut Pile
Cut pile carpet is the most popular choice for residential homes because they come in a wide range of styles from the classic valour look through to long shag piles, and everything in between. Cut pile carpets are manufactured by cutting the yarn loops which produces an upright pile that has a more luxurious, formal look than loop pile.
Loop Pile
Loop pile carpets have come a long way from the traditional berber looks of the past and now come in a variety of patterns and modern textures that will suit most homes. Loop piles tend to hide their wear better and therefore perform better in commercial applications.
Cut & Loop Pile
These carpets have a combination of cut and looped yarns and can create sculptured and patterned effects such as squares, swirls etc. Many different patterns can be achieved in a wide range of styles.
Carpet Texture
Textured carpets are one of the most popular types of carpet. This is because of the way they are made – the cut pile process combined with uneven and or twisted fibers – makes them both extremely hard wearing and less likely to show up dirt, tracks or dents.
Carpet Fibre Types
Wool Carpet
Made from natural fibres, wool carpet is warm, luxurious, durable and renewable. Wool carpets look good longer as they are resistant to crushing and general soiling, however are less stain resistant than most synthetic fibres due to it being so absorbent. Wool carpets absorb noise, are naturally flame retardant and the insulation properties mean it is cooler in Summer and warmer in Winter. The best quality wool for carpet is from right here in New Zealand. The strong naturally bulky yarn, yet soft fibre makes great loop, texture and plush carpet that looks beautiful in any room of the house.
Wool Blends are a mix of wool and synthetic fibres usually 80% wool and 20% synthetic giving the natural and luxurious feel of wool but the added durability of synthetic. An affordable alternative for family homes and for medium to high traffic areas.
SmartStrand Carpet
SmartStrand Forever Clean features Nanoloc, an advanced nanotechnology that completely encapsulates the SmartStrand fibre to create a superior spill and soil barrier. It has no dye sites where spills could adhere, so the carpet is naturally stain resistant. With its spring-like fibre molecule shape, it resists crushing and matting, maintaining the beauty and softness of your floor for years to come. SmartStrand Forever Clean is OEKO-TEX® certified free from harmful substances therefore you can rest easy knowing your carpet fibre is certified for a safe and healthy home.
For a truly worry-free solution, choose our Rhino Carpet. The perfect carpet for busy households with kids, pets – or clumsy adults!
Solution Dyed Nylon
Solution Dyed Nylon (SDN) is a resilient carpet with great fade resistance making it a good choice for sunny New Zealand homes. With good elasticity and resilience, it stands up to heavy traffic and will retain its shape under the weight of furniture or foot traffic. SDN can be produced in a lot of different qualities and price points and will perform well even in lower weights and so is a popular fibre choice. SDN is a versatile fibre and therefore comes in many carpet styles and as dyes work exceptionally well with nylon there is a huge range of colour choice available.
Polypropylene Carpet
Polypropylene is a lower cost synthetic option that has improved with recent developments in the manufacturing process. It provides good stain, fade, moisture and mildew resistance making it a perfect match for rental properties and play rooms. Usually manufactured into loop style carpets, they are great for low traffic areas.
Carpet Characteristics
It’s important to understand some key characteristics about carpet so you know what to expect from your carpet over time. We’ve summarised some of the key characteristics below to ensure you are fully informed. Please note that the manufacturer’s warranties also provide further detail on these characteristics.
It is normal in batch dyed products to have slight variations between both individual batches and store samples. The variation should not exceed 10%. Colour appearance can vary depending on the type of lighting conditions in which a sample is viewed and where the carpet is fitted. Viewing of the sample in your home under both day and night lighting conditions is recommended.
Carpets, like all other dyed textiles, will slowly lose colour over time when exposed to direct sunlight or may appear to have faded due to pile flattening through use. Carpet should be protected from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with curtains, blinds, shades or awnings. Colour change can also occur as the result of ozone, emissions from heating fuels and air conditioners, pesticides, cleaning agents, benzol peroxide and other household items. These are not considered to be manufacturing defects and do not affect the performance of the carpet.
(movement in cutpile style carpets – sometimes referred to as tracking)
All cut pile carpets show movement in the pile, giving these popular styles their “take your shoes off ” aesthetic. Without it your cut pile would look less soft and appealing. Just like a piece of suede, brush the pile one way and it looks darker and the other way lighter. The longer the pile the more movement you will see, and the softer it will feel. Sometimes this movement represents as a track up a hallway, sometimes as lines when newly vacuumed. This does not affect the durability or wear of the carpet and is not recognised as a fault, but as a characteristic of this style.
Carpet Care & Maintenance
To ensure long-lasting beauty, durability and comfort in your carpet court carpet, a regular care and maintenance program is essential.
A regular maintenance program helps to remove soil before it can build up and potentially damage carpet fibre and dull its appearance. Professional carpet cleaning is recommended for the treatment of stains that you are unable to remove.
