Happy Blog Birthday! 5 Top Reasons For Carpetology Visits

First Birthday Cake 

originally uploaded by hfb.

The Carpetology Blog turns one today.  I'm excited beyond belief.  I'm also tremendously grateful to you for making this milestone possible. 

To celebrate the event, I'm highlighting those posts that have generated the most visits in the past year. However, rather than just offer you a list of the top 20 posts, I've organized them into five categories which capture the essence of The Carpetology Blog.

The primary reason for visiting is for information about carpet style trends.  Not only to learn more about The Latest in Carpet Style Trends [which tops the list in a big way], but also about What is a Frieze Carpet?, What About Shag and Cable Carpet?, The Elegance of Dupioni Silk and Consider a Tailored Frieze Carpet Style.

The next reason is design focused with a practical twist.  Topping the list is Design Focus: Carpeted Stairs, then Tom Filicia's Design Inspiration Tips, and Fashion Trends: Color & Emotion from Mohawk. 

Then, there's carpet care and carpet maintenance, including removing stains.  Topping that  list is Spooktacular Stains: Removing the Remnants of Halloween from Your Carpet, then Sweeping Beauty: Your Carpet's Best Friend is Your Vacuum, and A Discussion About Carpet Maintenance with Kerns Carpet One.   

There's what I refer to as "Carpet In The News," fun stories involving carpet:  Tapis de Fleurs de Bruxelles, Green Is The New Red Carpet, Carpet At The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, Cushioning Play With AstroTurf Carpet and Surfaces 2008.

Finally, there are the "How To Guides for carpet."  More specifically, A Guide To Carpet Installation, Carpetology Guide to Buying Carpet Step 2: Options & Decisions and Step 3, as well as the category Carpet Buying Guide and Why Save Carpet Scraps From Your Installation.

Those are the 5 top reasons for visiting The Carpetology Blog.

Today, I also want to thank Elizabeth Hise, from Hughes, for her enthusiastic support of all things carpet-related this first year of The Carpetology Blog. She has been the perfect co-conspirator!   I also wish her the very best as she begins a new adventure. Elizabeth has just taken on a new position at the Fontbonne University in St. Louis in their communications and marketing department. She'll be doing a lot of writing for their newsletters and publications and anticipates taking part in social media programs (student written blogs, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.). 

I'm excited for her, and will miss her tremendously although I've told her that she remains a Woman of Wear-Dated for life, and is always welcome to post here.

Thank you for being part of The Carpetology Blog's first year. We look forward to bringing you even more in our second year.

Technorati Tags: Carpetology Blog carpet carpet style carpet care carpet maintenance carpet in the news carpet designDel.icio.us Tags: Carpetology Blog carpet carpet style carpet care carpet maintenance carpet in the news carpet design

Women of Wear-Dated: Disco Elfing

Today, I offer you the final Women of Wear-Dated dancing elf performance... and this one may be my favorite. Watch us do the Disco!

To recap, here are all of our 2008 Holiday Season performances:

• Elf Yourself Country
• Women of Wear-Dated: Charleston Elfing!
• Women of Wear-Dated: Classic Elfing

They, and today's, will be available until January 15, 2009.

We hope that we and they will have put you into a joyful foot-stomping mood to thoroughly enjoy the holidays. We wish you a marvelous season surrounded by family and friends, possibly even lounging on thick, plush and festive carpet.

From our hearts to yours, Happiest of Holidays!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Technorati Tags: dancing elves women of weardated Del.icio.us Tags: dancing elves women of weardated

Elf Yourself Country

It's the home stretch for the 2008 Holiday Season! On Friday, you got to see the Women of Wear-Dated performing the Charleston and before that a Classic Elfing dance. Did you like it? Would you like more?

If hope your answer is YeeHaw-Yes as the Women of Wear-Dated still have one or two elf dances up their sleeves.

Today, we are very pleased to share with you a Country Hoedown dancing elf performance as you have never seen it before!

[Note: interesting to learn some of the background behind country dancing, and that there is serious dance floor etiquette associated with Country Western.]

Let me know what you think!
--------------------

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Technorati Tags: dancing elves women of weardated Del.icio.us Tags: dancing elves women of weardated

Women of Wear-Dated: Charleston Elfing!

Yesterday, you saw the Women of Wear-Dated performing a Classic Elfing dance. Did you like it?

Well, today, we go beyond the classics to share with you the Christmas Charleston.... I hope the world is ready for us!

Once again, I offer you dancing elves, Charleston dancing elves - more specifically Women of Wear-Dated Charleston dancing elves.

Let me know what you think!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

NOTE: In my previous post, I mentioned that you have until January 11, 2009 to see us in action. It's actually January 15, 2009. You have a few more days.  Spread the word!

Technorati Tags: dancing elves women of wear-dated Del.icio.us Tags: dancing elves women of wear-dated

Women of Wear-Dated: Classic Elfing

It's almost countdown time for the Holidays.

I'm hopeful that I've started to put you in the mood with The Night Before Christmas.

Today I offer you dancing elves... Classic dancing elves. Classic dancing Women of Wear-Dated dancing elves!

Imagine that our dancing 'foot drop' is a thick, plush, snowy white carpet...

I hope you enjoy our unbelievable talent. Assuming you do, there will be more.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Let me know what you think!



PS: You have until January 11, 2009 to enjoy our talent!

Technorati Tags: Dancing elves women of wear-dated Del.icio.us Tags: Dancing elves women of wear-dated

A Foot's Perspective #19: The Night Before Christmas

In honor of the Holiday season, I share with you in this episode of A Foot's Perspective, my very favorite Christmas story, The Night Before Christmas.

This version of Clement C. Moore's famous story [which was originally published anonymously in 1823 as A Visit From St. Nicholas] is illustrated by Mary Engelbreit, a St. Louis artist. I find the richness of patterns and details entrancing and particularly delightful, as does my daughter. We received this copy when she was born 7 years ago.

[BTW, this story per Wikipedia is "largely responsible for the conception of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today, including his physical appearance, the night of his visit, his mode of transportation, the number and names of his reindeer, and that he brings toys to children. Prior to the poem, American ideas about St. Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors varied considerably." Amazing!]

My 'foot' drop for the story is a scrumptiously opulent feeling textured carpet style called Touch of Heaven from WundaWeve, made with Wear-Dated carpet fiber.

Without further ado, I present you with "The Night Before Christmas."

[Subscribers, please click on the link to view the YouTube Video.]


Thank you for watching [and reading!].

As says jolly St. Nicholas, "Merry Christmas to all & to all a Good Night!" I wish you the Happiest of Holidays!

For the most recent episode, visit A Foot's Perspective - Episode 18: Fabrica's Silk Weave Carpet. Or you can scroll through previous blogposts with links to all previous episodes of A Foot's Perspective.

Technorati Tags: Touch of Heaven A Foot's Perspective The Night Before Christmas Mary Engelbreit Del.icio.us Tags: Touch of Heaven A Foot's Perspective The Night Before Christmas Mary Engelbreit

Mannington Commercial Carpet Design Competition - tx:style

Calling all interior designers and architects - especially if you have 7 years of experience or less! Have you submitted a commercial carpet design to the tx:style design challenge 2009?

Mannington Commercial launched tx:style just this month and will accept entries until February 6, 2009. Simply upload your carpet design idea along with accompanying visuals and a personal written statement articulating what inspired and fueled your design concept.

Pretty cool, don't you think?

It gets cooler, yet. You can still be involved, even if you don't submit a design. By voting online!

In conjunction with the design submissions and through February 15, 2009 you can vote online to help determine the five tx:style finalists.

Then, in late April, you can vote again on the finalists' actual product samples which will be posted to the tx:style website.

If you attend NeoCon 2009, you will be able to see the samples in Mannington Commercial's showroom where voting will continue until the end of the first day of the show.

The winner earns not only a cash prize, but will also have his or her design become a carpet collection in Mannington Commercial's fall carpet line...

Really cool.

I love that the concept for the design competition came from a very successful collaboration that Mannington Commercial had with 25-year old Kaitlin Phelps. The end result was the Adorn Collection which brought a new style and fashion mystique to commercial carpet. No wonder that Bead, from the Adorn Collection, won a Doc Product Award for 2008 as well as the 2008 Designer's Choice Award!

For more information, read the official press release, visit tx:style and either submit, vote or both!




Technorati Tags: Mannington Commercial tx:style carpet design competition Kaitlin Phelps Adorn carpet collection Doc Award Competition Designer's Choice Award Del.icio.us Tags: Mannington Commercial tx:style carpet design competition Kaitlin Phelps Adorn carpet collection Doc Award Competition Designer's Choice Award

Annette's Carpet Corner: The Wear-Dated Shag Carpet Maintenance Sheet

Today's episode of Annette's Carpet Corner is about Shag Carpet Maintenance. You see, Annette Smith has seen too many shag carpet horrors coming into the ear-Dated warranty service center. She is now on a mission.

Her mission has to do with educating the world about how to maintain Shag Carpet...

Here's the aggravating part.

Consumers purchase shag carpet and very few retailers take the time to explain to them how to care for their shag carpet.

And, then, guess what happens? After a few vacuumings, the carpet starts to lose its unique character. The carpet yarns start to "feather out" and lose their twist. They start to fuzz and pill and generally look nasty. Not the fashion statement you purchased originally.

That's why she's on a mission. To let you know that this kind of shag deterioration is avoidable, given the right shag carpet maintenance information.

We touched on the subject in a previous post titled What About Shag and Cable Carpets? Since then, though, we've gone a step further and created a separate document on the subject.

It's called the Wear-Dated Shag Carpet Maintenance Sheet and it offers general care tips as well as Shag Carpet specific vacuuming tips. [Note added 1/17/10: I'll be republishing the contents of the Shag Carpet Maintenance sheet as a separate post. I'm also looking to get a photo of a pilator to show you!]

Major tip for Shag Carpets: vacuum only with a suction vacuum.

If your vacuum has a beater bar, disengage it. Immediately!

For particularly thick Shag Carpets, consider a grooming rake or pilator...

Download a copy of the Wear-Dated Shag Carpet Maintenance Sheet, and, please, if you know anyone with a Shag Carpet, let them know how important it is to know how to care properly for their carpet.

Thank you.



Technorati Tags: Wear-Dated shag carpet carpet care carpet maintenance shag carpet care Wear-Dated Shag Carpet Maintenance Sheet Del.icio.us Tags: Wear-Dated shag carpet carpet care carpet maintenance shag carpet care Wear-Dated Shag Carpet Maintenance Sheet

The Wear-Dated Carpet Buying Sheet

We've just published what I consider to be a really valuable document to refer to when you buy carpet. It's the Wear-Dated Carpet Buying Sheet and consists of tips, advice and questions to ask when you are ready to purchase carpet. The goal of it: to ensure that you have the best overall experience possible with carpet.

The Wear-Dated Carpet Buying Sheet came about as Annette and I discussed carpet complaints and what types of complaints might be preventable. Many were. And consumers told us that they wished they had known before they had problems what they should have been doing.

After all, carpet represents a major purchase - like a car or a major appliance. But, unlike those other major purchases, it doesn't come with a comparable instruction manual. Wouldn't you want to know ahead of time what is important for carpet care and carpet maintenance and carpet warranty compliance? I would.

That's how the Wear-Dated Carpet Buying Sheet came about. Tips, advice and suggested questions to ask your retailer before you leave the store.

For example, warranties.

Did you know that carpet often carries multiple warranties? From the retailer, the carpet manufacturer and – for better quality carpet – from the fiber manufacturer. [Note: Wear-Dated is a carpet fiber and we offer a warranty on carpet made with Wear-Dated carpet fiber.] The different warranties may differ one from the other in their requirements. They may also be affected by the carpet pad or cushion you purchase. Best to know ahead of time.

The best time to determine which warranties apply is at purchase, by asking the retailer and noting details from the back of the carpet sample.

And, how best to maintain carpet.

Carpet must be vacuumed regularly [at least twice per week] and professionally cleaned every 18 to 24 months. But, did you know that certain styles of carpet [e.g., shag or some loops] prefer a suction-only vacuum? Proper maintenance ensures that carpet retains its beauty over time. How it is done will also affect a carpet owner’s warranty. Best to know ahead of time.

I grew up considering ‘vacuuming’ a generic activity. Actually, until recently I thought that. I've learned though - from spending time with Annette Smith and getting involved in the Wear-Dated website - that it isn't!.. Vacuums have become more specialized, and their power greater. And which vacuum you use matters for your carpet. [Hint: beware of beater bars...]

Another important piece of advice: keep your purchase receipts. You may need them.

The Wear-Dated Carpet Buying Sheet includes these and other valuable tips. It can be downloaded from the Wear-Dated website.

If you see anything missing, please let me know.

Technorati Tags: Wear-Dated Carpet Buying Sheet buy carpet purchase carpet carpet care carpet warranty carpet maintenance carpet beater bar Del.icio.us Tags: Wear-Dated Carpet Buying Sheet buy carpet purchase carpet carpet care carpet warranty carpet maintenance carpet beater bar

Understanding Carpet: Construction

Did you know that carpet as we know it today - i.e., primarily a tufted construction - is the product of a quintessentially American industry? I hadn't until I read Carpet Capital: The Rise of a New South Industry (Economy and Society in the Modern South). It describes how carpet construction shifted from being woven to tufted in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and from being manufactured in the North to the South.

Today, although carpet is still either woven or tufted, over 95% of it is tufted.

A bit of history.

According to Wikipedia, the term 'carpet' also referred to "table and wall coverings as carpets were not commonly used on the floor in European interiors until the 18th century" [beautiful tapestries like The Unicorn Tapestries come to mind]. However, long before that the Turks - who have the longest carpet creation and use history - "protected themselves from the extremes of the cold weather by covering the floors, and sometimes walls and doorways, with carpets." Those carpets were all woven and, when they, and other Oriental carpets, began gracing European interiors in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, only appeared underfoot for royalty or statues of the Virgin Mary!

Luckily for all of us, that changed with trade routes opening up and the creation of a middle class of consumers...

2nd Scarf originally uploaded by Brittany No L.
Woven construction - as we describe it on the Wear-Dated website - has to do with the creation of carpet (or rugs) through a "weaving process on a loom where the lengthwise (warp) yarns and the widthwise (weft or filling) yarns are interlaced to form the fabric. In woven carpet, the face and back are formed at the same time by interweaving warp, weft and other yarns."

This is the same process used to weave sheets or apparel fabrics, including the scarf shown in the photo.

Traditional woven carpet styles include Axminster, Wilton - traditionally made in the U.K. - and velvet. In the U.S., Karastan is one of the largest carpet weavers.

[Do read this excellent description of Woven Carpet by Tom Cartmell, CFI Chairman of Industry Relations Committee.]

Image courtesy of the Carpet & Rug Institute

As mentioned above, the majority of carpet manufactured and sold in this country is tufted. Here's how Wear-Dated describes tufted construction.

For tufted carpet, "yarn gets tufted into a primary backing [a woven or non-woven fabric in which tufting needles insert pile yarn – that’s what creates the fuzzy side] which then gets glued or laminated to a secondary backing that reinforces and increases dimensional stability. That glue or latex coating also locks the fibers into place."

[In Carpet Construction Basics, Carpet Quality and Performance, Michael Hilton likens tufting to embroidery.]

Once manufactured, the carpet surface will have a 'fuzzy' look to it because the pile won't be perfectly level and neat. At that point, it will go into a "sheering machine which shaves off those variations to create a nice, smooth finished carpet."

The tufting construction process for carpet is an extremely versatile one in that many different styles of carpet are possible. I'll review those in the next installment of Understanding Carpet.

Other carpet construction resources:

+ How Carpet is Made from the WFCA

+ The Carpet And Rug Institute describe carpet and rug construction

+ Carpet Guru on "Is Your Carpet Well Made?"

Previous posts in this series include:
Understanding Carpet: Quality
Understanding Carpet: Benefits




Technorati Tags: carpet construction Wear-Dated woven carpet tufted carpet carpet history Karastan Del.icio.us Tags: carpet construction Wear-Dated woven carpet tufted carpet carpet history Karastan

Design Reviews From the Floor Up ~ Design With Christine

December's Design Reviews from the Floor Up introduces you to Design With Christine. It's fresh, practical and inspiring.

I came across Design With Christine as a result of a Google alert for carpet. It immediately caught my attention.

Can you guess why?

I love that the blog name includes 'Christine.' Furthermore, Christine mentions - in her About Me section - that she is "really good at getting stains out of carpet."

So, not only do we share a name, but we also have an affinity for carpet... And, she loves Jane Austin!

Christine Fife is an ASID interior designer with 11 years of design experience. She launched Design With Christine in March 2008. Her first posts explore mantle pieces and how best to showcase them as design elements, based on Architectural Digest photos of rooms in the White House. She definitely should have been consulted for some of these rooms as her observations are right on! I can literally 'see' the points that she makes.

What I also love about Design With Christine is how she welcomes design questions from her readers. She answers those in blogposts, illustrating her solutions with copious photos. What a terrific way do bring her design acumen to life and share it with others!

Check out, too, her Wallpaper Wednesday posts. I now look at wallpaper with a whole new set of eyes.

Definitely explore Design With Christine. I expect you will enjoy it as much as I do.

For previous sites included in this series, click on Design Reviews from the Floor Up. Or, visit our sidebar also titled 'Design Reviews from the Floor Up.'

Technorati Tags: Design Reviews from the floor up Design with Christine Christine Fife carpet design interior design Del.icio.us Tags: Design Reviews from the floor up Design with Christine Christine Fife carpet design interior design

Create A Color Palette To Coordinate Walls, Carpet, Furniture & More

How do you select colors for a room design? How do you coordinate wall, carpet, furniture colors and more? Do you have a system for creating a color palette, or are you paralyzed with indecision?

In either case, you might want to read Designer's Walk, by Sonna Calandrino, Fabulous Floors Magazine's Editor-in-Chief. It's the ultimate guide to creating a color palette and appears in the Fall 2008 issue.

It's a beautiful article filled with terrific visuals based on the Wear-Dated Field Guide to Color - Color Folio 2008 that Ann Hurley was instrumental in creating. Using John J. Audubon images of birds, Sonna shows how Ann created four-color palettes from each print. Each set of colors can be used as is or in combinations of gradations [values] of each color.

[This link will take you to the blogpost that summarizes all of the elements of the Field Guide to Color.]

The lesson from the article is that a favorite work of art can become the basis for a color design palette. Simply pick your favorite 4 or 5 colors from that piece, decide which you find most livable - that becomes your primary color; the rest are accents - and build a room design around them. The result coordinates effectively and reflects something that truly appeals to you.

We are so honored that Sonna chose to base Designer's Walk on our Field Guide to Color, and believe you will find it both helpful and inspiring. Look for the 2008 Fall issue of Fabulous Floors Magazine.

Or, simply download a copy of the article, Designer's Walk, by clicking this link.

And, then, go forth and coordinate your walls, carpet, furniture and more based on the color palette you created from your favorite source of inspiration!




Technorati Tags: Fabulous Floors Magazine Designer's Walk Sonna Calandrino Wear-Dated create color palette carpet colors coordinate room design Del.icio.us Tags: Fabulous Floors Magazine Designer's Walk Sonna Calandrino Wear-Dated create color palette carpet colors coordinate room design

A Foot's Perspective - Episode 18: Fabrica's Silk Weave Carpet

[Pictured here, Fabrica's Antigua and Silk Weave carpet styles.]

This episode of A Foot's Perspective comes from the beautiful showroom of Associated Inc. in Seattle, Washington -- located one half block from the Seattle Design Center -- where I had the honor of co-presenting with a most talented and design-inspiring woman, Robbie Schuette.

Robbie is territory manager for Fabrica, a carpet mill. She has a rich background in design and describes carpet style trends in a way particularly relevant to me, and, I think, to you.

The Associated showroom is an inspiring space. It's no wonder that designers around Seattle consider it a haven for ideas. I took many photos and plan to share with you what I observed in a separate blogpost.

One section of the showroom has been carpeted with Fabrica's Silk Weave carpet style, which is elegant and evocative of The Elegance of Dupioni Silk. It looked so stunning that Robbie suggested that we use it for this episode of A Foot's Perspective to illustrate the carpet style and color trends she has observed in the Northwest. I agreed.

Robbie makes points about carpet style trends inspired by fabric [e.g., silk for Silk Weave], asian influences, and timeless colors and patterns [note Silk Weave's palette of 15 colors]. Even though she talks about the Northwest, I suggest that her observations are relevant to the rest of the country, too.

Watch for yourself.

[Subscribers, please click on this link to view the YouTube video.]


What do you think? Isn't Silk Weave timelessly elegant, yet texturally casual? Can't you see it in your home?

Thank you for watching [and reading!].

Note: Silk Weave is a carpet made with Wear-Dated carpet fiber.

For the most recent episode, visit A Foot's Perspective - Episode 17: Wow! Carpet. Or you can scroll through previous blogposts with links to all previous episodes of A Foot's Perspective.




Technorati Tags: A Foot's Perspective Robbie Schuette Fabrica Silk Weave Associated Inc. Seattle WA carpet style trends Wear-Dated Del.icio.us Tags: A Foot's Perspective Robbie Schuette Fabrica Silk Weave Associated Inc. Seattle WA carpet style trends Wear-Dated

The Carpetology Blog - Now on Alltop!

Exciting News for Wear-Dated and The Carpetology Blog! We have recently been added to Alltop.

Alltop describes itself as an “online magazine rack” of popular topics. As with a magazine rack, you can browse through a variety of topics [i.e., blog feeds] and explore the ones that interest you in more depth. It's a pretty neat concept, and an extremely efficient one for exploring the many topics about which people write.

It does so by aggregating RSS feeds from popular resources. As Alltop explains on its About page, to help you "explore your passions by collecting stories from “all the top” sites on the web [... and then groups] these collections — “aggregations” — into individual Alltop sites based on topics such as environment, photography, science, Muslim, celebrity gossip, military, fashion, gaming, sports, politics, automobiles, and Macintosh. At each Alltop site, [it] displays the headlines of the latest stories from dozens of sites and blogs."

Flooring The Consumer can be found on the page created for all of the top marketing news.

And, now, The Carpetology Blog is part of all of the top corporate blog news listed under Wear-Dated.

I'm so excited. And, so very proud!

Technorati Tags: Alltop Wear-Dated Carpetology Del.icio.us Tags: Alltop Wear-Dated Carpetology

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tapis d'Automne originally uploaded by code poet.

From all of us at Wear-Dated, to all of you who read The Carpetology Blog, we wish you a wonderful and beautiful Thanksgiving.

We hope that carpet will feature as a prominent backdrop to your holiday celebrations - both inside and outdoors - as you celebrate with family and friends.

Remember, if you encounter any Thanksgiving dinner stain mishaps, no worries! Just visit the Wear-Dated website Stain Removal Guide where we offer advice for berry, butter, gravy and wine -- and everything in between.

And, here, we show you how best to remove a carpet stain in A Foot's Perspective - Episode 15: How To Remove Carpet Stains. You see, there's a technique to it.

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for celebrating all things related to carpet with us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

~ The Women of Wear-Dated

Technorati Tags: carpet care carpet stains Del.icio.us Tags: carpet care carpet stains

Understanding Carpet: Quality

Something I struggle with across many product categories - including carpet - is evaluating quality. Think of it. How do you know that something represents high quality when many of the parameters that affect performance, durability and quality are ones that you can't readily evaluate in a store? And when lesser quality products often look comparable to those of higher quality -- even though they aren't?

That's how the Wear-Dated brand and warranty came about when it was first launched in 1962 - to offer peace-of-mind to consumers and assurance that the end product [then, apparel and eventually upholstery fabrics and, now, carpet] made with our fiber would perform consistently and satisfactorily over time. Even though we are but an ingredient in the overall product, we offer an assurance of performance, of carpet quality and durability. Because we have strict carpet construction parameters to adhere to and product performance tests that carpet must pass before it can carry the Wear-Dated brand.

Okay. But, what affects quality in a carpet? Wouldn't you like to know?

If you're like me, you're paying closer attention than ever to quality. When I buy carpet, I'm looking for something that will look beautiful, be comfortable and last for a significant period of time. I'm looking for durability, for quality. Not for something quasi-disposable that I'll have to replace in a year or two. Aren't you?

I've heard horror stories about consumers having had cheap, lousy carpet pushed onto them. In a ridiculously short period of time [we are talking months rather than years], the product 'uglies' out to such an extent that the homeowner winds up ripping the carpet out and vowing never again to carpet his or her home. What a shame given the benefits that carpet offers. What a shame when better quality carpet would have completely changed that homeowner's experience...

But understandable when carpet quality seems so... fuzzy.

So, back to my question, what affects carpet quality or durability?

On the Wear-Dated website, we discuss Carpet Durability Factors and specifically refer to three factors affecting carpet durability: fiber type, density and twist.

Fiber type is the basic building block or "foundation" of carpet quality and the type of fiber will affect how well a carpet performs over time. The best carpet fiber is nylon. Nylon comes in two different 'flavors;' nylon 6,6 [vs. nylon 6] is the better of the two. Nylon and Nylon 6,6 positively affect durability and quality. Check out the fiber comparison chart on the Wear-Dated website where we illustrate the differences between fiber types.

Next is density which has to do with "pile yarn spacing – or how close the tufts of yarn are spaced together – and the height of the tufts present in a square yard of carpet. Generally, the higher the density, the better the performance." This is where your hands come in handy to can ‘feel’ the density or thickness of the carpet. Imagine running your hands through grass and feeling the difference between thick, well-established sod and an un-cared for grass with bald spots and weeds and lots of poor earth showing through...

Then, twist which relates to "how tightly the pair of yarns in each carpet tuft is twisted. It is expressed in a #/inch of length. The tighter the twist in the yarn, the higher the number, the better the performance."

Those are the major factors. The next two are weight and pile height.

Weight tells you how much fiber is in carpet. However, it also "is a function of the pile height and density combined" where density is the better performance measure than pile height.

[Heavier weight carpet generally costs more than lighter weight carpet. It has more fiber.]

Pile height is a matter of personal choice and preference, varying based on carpet style and practicality. It represents the distance from the carpet backing to the top of the carpet tufts. "'Deep pile' is plusher, but can also show tracks and vacuum marks. 'Lower pile' height is firmer and may be preferred where wheeled furniture or toys are being moved around."

My takeaway from all this is to first look at fiber type. Make sure you have Nylon carpet fiber. Much better is to have Nylon 6,6 carpet fiber. And, then, look for denser carpet with higher twist - particularly if you are looking for better durability. Keep in mind, though, that your ultimate carpet style choice will depend on where the carpet goes in your home...

Definitely check out the labels on the back of carpet samples. Many will capture most of this critical information. Here we offer guidelines on how to interpret a carpet label. The Carpet & Rug Institute describes the various carpet performance ratings that you might encounter on carpet sample back labels in Carpet Comparison Made Easy.

Also, read How Carpet is Made from the WFCA.

Do you feel a bit more comfortable appreciating carpet quality? I hope so.

Technorati Tags: carpet quality carpet fiber type carpet fiber nylon 66 carpet fiber nylon carpet fiber carpet density carpet twist carpet durability Del.icio.us Tags: carpet quality carpet fiber type carpet fiber nylon 66 carpet fiber nylon carpet fiber carpet density carpet twist carpet durability

Understanding Carpet: Benefits

Ryan playing on the floor with Cars

originally uploaded by Moody Mari.

I'm partial to carpet. Not just because I'm associated with Wear-Dated. It just feels better. Although carpet captures terrific benefits [as you can read below], it's a matter of how all of those benefits translate into a product that feels good physically and psychologically. Not only does it contribute visual interest and texture to my space, but it helps me express my sense of style because of the variety of constructions and styles available. In short, it makes for a perfect backdrop for life.

Not unreasonable, right? Do you feel the same way?

I've lived in totally un-carpeted spaces and yearned desperately for softness underfoot - even in tropical locations! As much as I was grateful for cold, cooling concrete floors, that rug or carpet made such a difference when I went to bed or got up in the morning, or just spent time in my room. In cold locations, even a wood floor felt unwelcoming. If area rugs were strewn about, I would hop from one to the other in an attempt to keep hard and harsh reality at bay and my toes warm. In both extreme locations, my floor was part of my design scheme and, if it didn't coordinate with the rest of my room, I was unable to relax and get comfortable.

Carpet made a difference during college. I fondly remember the multi-toned grass green shag carpet I purchased from a departing senior for my dorm room [for $20]. I paired that up with bright and colorful tulip-patterned fabric for curtains, an unzipped forest green nylon sleeping bag as bedspread and a riot of pillows on the bed. Oh, the look of it!

And the practicality of it, too! It truly expanded the usefulness of my room, making it welcoming and comfortable.

On the Wear-Dated website, we discuss carpet benefits in How Carpet Is Constructed. "Visual and physical warmth" may be the most obvious. But, what about how much more comfortable a carpet makes the floor? A carpet means that you can actually sit on the floor without needing chiropractic intervention when you get up.

Think about it. Especially with the holidays around the corner. Haven't you spent time on the carpet assembling large puzzles? or playing with a train set? what about racing cars? I bet you're looking forward to putting some toys together there, too! I used to do a great bit of sewing. I pinned my patterns and cut out the pieces from the floor. It was the best work surface I could hope for.

My daughter spends all of her time [not counting sleep, meals or homework - well, some sleep] playing on the floor of her room [see A Foot's Perspective - Episode 6, for example]. Yes, it's carpeted and forms a lovely backdrop for her activities.

The house in which she learned to walk did not have as much carpet as our current one does. Her first steps took place in the carpeted area which is where she crawled and played. Unfortunately, the stairs there weren't carpeted and the tumble she took down those steps was scarily impressive. Yes, our stairs are now carpeted.

Have you considered how carpet improves the acoustics in a room, eliminating echoes and reducing noise? It's much easier to hear and be heard in a carpeted room. I often wish that churches had more carpet underfoot so that I could actually understand the words being uttered. Instead, I must rely on bad sound systems that magnify the echoes off of all of the hard marble surfaces...

I agree that there's a place for carpet and a place for other type surfaces. However, in my home, carpet offers more comfort and beauty than do the others surfaces. Furthermore, as I've cranked the heat down for the winter, I'm even more grateful than usual for the additional warmth, insulation and visual benefits that carpet has to offer.

Here are other posts that discuss the benefits of carpet:
+ The History and Science of Carpet
+ Carpet For Your Tent, Carpet For Your Cubicle
+ My New Outlook on Carpet
+ A Foot's Perspective - Episode 4 and Carpet Goes Back to School
+ Carpet Alleviates Allergies and Beware of Autumn Allergens… Advice for Carpet

Technorati Tags: carpet carpet benefits carpet comfort carpet style Del.icio.us Tags: carpet carpet benefits carpet comfort carpet style