Types of Carpet - Carpet Types

Cut Pile

The best-selling type of carpet is textured cut pile. Cut pile is created by cutting looped carpet fibers at the top, leaving yarn bundles standing straight. Preshearing cut pile several times creates a luxurious appearance. Cut pile is less resistant to crushing than other types of carpet.

Saxony

Saxonies are tightly twisted cut piles that are heatset straight. Saxonies provide a soft texture. They are made by twisting two or more fibers together in a yarn. Saxonies show every footprint and vacuum-cleaner mark.

Texture and Textured Saxonies

Textures are the best-selling carpets and work well in informal areas (such as family rooms and children's bedrooms) because of its soft feel. Textures are tightly twisted and texture heatset. They have a multi-colored look that disguises tracks.

Velvet/Plush

Velvets/Plushes are lightly twisted and have a uniform color. They are softer and more level than textures. This type of carpet is ideal for formal areas (such as formal living rooms and master bedrooms) because of its luxurious appearance. Velvets/Plushes show every footprint and vacuum-cleaner mark.

Frieze

Frieze is a highly twisted cut pile carpet suited for high traffic areas. It has short fibers that tend to curl in different directions at the surface to hide footprints and vacuum marks.

Level Loop Pile

Level loop pile is made by weaving even loops of yarn into carpet backing at both ends. This type of carpet is very strong and track resistance because of its strong loops. Higher loops create a more luxurious appearance. Level loop piles with short and densely packed loops are easy to clean. They prevent dirt from filtering into carpet. This type of carpet is ideal for high traffic areas.

Cut and Loop Pile

Cut and loop pile combines cut and looped fibers. It provides a variety of surface textures or sculptured effects. Cut and loop pile carpets are available in solid or multiple colors. The different levels in this type of carpet can hide dirt and footprints.

Loop Pile Commercial

Usually nylon, and comes in a variety of patterns and colors.

Multi-Level Loop Pile

Multi-level loop pile is like level loop pile except that the loop heights vary (usually two to three different loop heights). This carpet creates an appearance of random texture. This type of carpet is good for high traffic areas but the smaller loops can sometimes hold more dirt.

Footprint-Free

Usually plush carpet, low cut pile that leaves no footprint marks or vacuum cleaner marks.

Sculptured

Tone-on-tone raised impressions in the carpet, i.e., plush flowers on a loop pile background.

Patterned

Floral, lattice, plaid - all one type of carpet, usually on either plush, or low cut pile carpets.

Multi-Tone

Speckled, with lines or plaids. Comes in Berber, Loop pile, or Cut Pile.

Needlepoint

Usually wool, a fine carpet that can have many colors, patterns, sculptured or plain, and looks woven.

Berber

Berbers are increasing in popularity faster than any other type of carpet. Berbers limit footprints and vacuum tracks. Berbers can have thicker yarns than other level loop pile carpets. These loops can retain dirt and may be damaged from snags. Berbers come in expensive wool fibers or less expensive nylon, olefin, or nylon-olefin fibers.