In an effort to help our customers become more comfortable with carpeting terms and definitions, we have compiled a list of facts and details regarding the different carpet styles. We want to assure your confidence in your decision when shopping for your new carpet.
There are a handful of terms that describe the carpet-making process which you should be familiar with before we get to talking about carpet pile styles. Learn the carpet lingo:
GaugeGauge refers to the space between the needles on a tufting machine . This measurement is recorded in fractions of an inch, and indicates the number of needles that are positioned across the width of the tufting machine.
PitchPitch is the space between the stitches made by the needles (the distance which the backing material shifts before the needle punches in the next tuft). It is measured by using the number of tufts per inch.
DensityDensity is the measure of the closeness of the pile yarns, and it will reveal the gauge and pitch. It is measured by the number of ounces per yard. Usually, a greater density means a higher quality carpet.
Face weightFace weight is the number of ounces per yard of fiber extending above the primary backing. All of these measurements (gauge, pitch, density and face weight) are dependent on one another. For example, if the density increases but the pile height does not change, the face weight will be greater. Or if the pile height raises with the density staying the same, the face weight will increase.
The remainder of this article will provide information on Cut- Pile styles (59% of the current market), Loop-Pile types (28% of the market), and Cut and Loop-Pile combination styles (13% of the market).