Buying a new carpet isn’t as simple as walking into a store, seeing something you like, and telling your salesperson to wrap it up. When it comes to getting the best product at the best value, it helps to do your research beforehand. But how do you determine carpet quality on your own? Luckily, it’s simple. Before you buy a rug, you’ll always want to do a bit of research to see whether or not the material makes sense for your home, and whether you’ll be able to take it regularly to your favorite carpet cleaners in burlington. Taking the extra time to figure out whether or not your carpet is made of solid, long-lasting stuff doesn’t require that much extra work, especially if you know what you’re looking for. If you’re in the market for a brand new carpet and don’t want to end up with something that’s less than perfect, here are a few telltale signs to keep an eye out for.
Fiber Quality
Your rug’s fiber type will tell you a lot about its durability if you know what to look for. If you want a comfy, plush feeling underfoot, you might be inclined to think that all plush rugs are the same. However, there’s a big difference between a rug made of natural wool fiber or high-grade synthetic fiber and a rug that’s going to easily pill or snag after only a month or two. If you’re looking for a natural fiber rug, your price tag is going to be higher but your quality is going to be incredible. Whether you choose 100% wool or silk, you’ll be able to keep your rug strong and durable by cleaning it regularly and using the right treatment. If you’re going for a synthetic fiber rug, you’ll have a bit more to consider. Do you want a rug that has more advanced technology to make your life easier, such as stain-protectant properties or factory-set sealant? Do you want a rug that’s going to be mold and stain resistant? Do you want something with the look and feel of a natural fiber? As long as you’re checking the care tag and making sure your rug isn’t diluted with a lot of plastic and filler, you’ll be able to sort through the best synthetic fiber rugs and find the one that’s right for you.
Twist Style
The way rug yarn is styled is known as a “twist.” There are tons of different twist styles to choose from, just as there are different kinds of loops and cuts that create different textures. The type of feeling you want underfoot will have to do more with preference, but the style of twist could tell you a lot more about how well your rug choice will hold up over time. When the yarn for your rug is spun out, it will result in tight twists for shorter fiber rugs and looser, longer strands for natural fibers and longer cut rugs. For rugs that are stain resistant, you’ll want to make sure the twist is tight in order to lock out moisture. If you’re going for something simple and sturdy like berber carpeting, you’ll also want to check for tight twists to make sure your rug doesn’t end up snagging or pilling prematurely.
Thickness
Your rug’s thickness setting will also have a lot to do with preference. However, a thick rug doesn’t always mean a sturdy rug. If you’re only looking at long-strand rugs with a more relaxed cut, you’ll want to make sure you’re actually paying for a dense, sturdy rug rather than a lot of filler. A good way to figure out how dense a rug actually is is by asking about its face weight value. This will give you a good sense of how many fibers are packed onto your rug. While face weight isn’t necessarily a sign of higher quality, it will give you a good sense of thickness and weight. You’ll also know that you’re not paying for a lot of empty space, especially if you’re counting on this rug for its thermal properties.
Underside
One of the easiest ways to tell whether or not your rug is the real deal is to simply flip it over. If you’re dealing with an Oriental rug, you’ll be able to tell the quality by seeing an almost exact replica of the front detail on the back, rather than a lot of machine-made stitching. With conventional rugs, you’ll be able to see the quality and density of stitching by flipping your rug over, as well as getting a sense of how sturdy the base material is.
