Wally Wemnant's Frequently Asked Carpet Questions

Q: What are the various types of carpets available?

A: There are generally three residential types of tufted carpet constructions: cut pile, loop pile and cut and loop pile. In the cut pile style, the carpet loops have been cut to create individual tips. A few cut pile styles of carpet you might be familiar with are a saxony, texture, or a frieze style carpet. One advantage of the cut pile is the tremendous variety, making them suitable for almost any area of the home.

In a loop pile style, the carpet loops are not cut or sheared but instead the intact loops form the surface of the carpet. Berber is a popular style that is made of a loop pile construction. Loop pile carpets are very durable, but like all carpet styles, the construction of the carpet will be a major factor on how it will perform.

In a cut and loop pile style, as the name suggests, you will see a combination of the previous two styles. A sculptured carpet, a style of carpet you might be more familiar with, is an example of cut and loop style. Cut and loop style come in multi-colourations and random patterns and have excellent soil hiding properties.

Q: When shopping for a new carpet, what factors should I take into consideration when selecting a carpet that will perform to my expectation?

A: Density is generally considered the best indicator of performance. Density is the amount of pile packed into a given volume of carpet. Density is increased by tufting the yarns closer together. The twist level of the yarn determines the ability of a carpet to retain its texture. A tighter twist in the yarn gives the fiber more resilience, resulting in better performance. A loosely twisted yarn will not give you long term durability.

Q: I've read a lot about indoor air quality. Does carpet contribute to "indoor pollution"?

A: According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, new carpet, llike a new car,can have an odor for a short period of time after installation, yet it does not contribute to indoor air pollution.

Q: How long can I expect my floor covering to last?

A: That depends on many factors including the makeup of your household and how much foot traffic traverses across a particular room. The average resilient floor covering lasts from 10-15 years. Carpet, meanwhile is usually kept for 7 to 10 years, buy many variables exist, not the least of which is the quality of carpet you choose.

Q: I'm concerned with stain protection. How can I be sure my carpet will perform well in that area?

A: Many carpets today come with superior stain protection, soil protection and static resistance. Most homeowners clean their carpets about once a year and want their carpet to perform as well as possible in these three areas.

While no carpet is completely protected, today's carpets are better than ever. Ask Wally Wemnants how the carpet you've chosen will perform overall. Also, be sure to follow manufacturer's instructions when cleaning any stain. cleaning/stain chartAny carpet will take a beating from children, pets, spills and day to day traffic, but a good quality carpet can withstand the abuse and typically outlast many other household items.

Q: Why do some carpets shed more than others?

A: Shedding is a normal characteristic of most new carpeting. Many carpets are sheared as one of the final steps in the manufacturing process. Although large vacuums are employed at the carpet mills to remove loose fibers, some of the cut fibers will fall into the carpet pile, causing minor shedding when the carpet is first installed.

"Staple" carpet, carpet manufactured from fiber in the natural unprocessed state, has a tendency to shed more than a "BCF" carpet, a bulk continuous filament yarn. Because of the essential and unique characteristics of spun yarn itself, carpets made from wool or man-made staple will not have all the fibers anchored into the carpet back. A small percentage of these fibers will be removed by vacuuming during the first few months after carpet is installed. The length of time the carpet will shed depends on the pile height, type of vacuuming, and frequency of vacuuming. This normal loss of fiber will not affect the durability and performance of the carpet, as the amount of fibers removed is very small compared to the total amount of fibers in carpet.

Q: As a customer should I expect invisible seams?

A: If you did not see them in your old carpet, does that mean that you will not see them in your new installation? How visible is acceptable? If you were expecting invisible seams because no one ever told you to expect otherwise, then you may interpret that a visible seam means something is wrong. In actuality, the problem may not lie in the quality of the carpet or the quality of the workmanship, but in your expectations.

A recent study shows that nearly half of all carpet complaints are due to unrealistic expectations. It is the responsibility of the salesperson to discuss all aspects of the installation prior to the day of installation, preferably at the time of sale.

What factors affect seam visibility? First, the seam must be made properly by the installer. Style, color and location of the seam also affect seam visibility. Velvet plushes tend to be least forgiving with saxonies next in line. Textures and friezes generally hide everything better...vacuum marks, footprints, and seams. Lighter colours tend to be less forgiving than darker colours in the same style. Generally, the more colour variation and texture, the less visible the seam. Where a seam is located relative to light sources can also greatly affect the outcome. A seam parallel to a window will be more visible than one placed perpendicular to it.

Berbers are in a class by themselves with some style seaming better than others. More carpet is often required in berber installations to eliminate T-seams and to match patterns. Seam peaking can cast a shadow, making a seam more visible.