Carpet Types & Fibres

Types of Carpet

Carpets are manufactured in a variety of ways. Woven and hand knotted carpets are the most traditional of methods to produce luxury carpets. Modern methods of tufting and fibre bonding have reduced the cost of production and are by far the fastest way to produce carpeting for the domestic market.

Machine Woven

Including well know constructions such as Axminster and Wilton, machine woven carpets are made by massive looms that weave together bobbins of carpet yarn and backing. The finished result, often intricately patterned, creates a floor that provides supreme underfoot luxury with high performance. You can tell if it's an Axminster or Wilton if the pattern can be seen on the back.

Tufted

Popular in the domestic sector, tufted carpet technology is fairly new in terms of the history of carpet manufacturing, but it's speed compared to the traditional method, means that for many it is a more suitable carpet for the home. A pre-woven backing gets yarn tufted into it. Needles push the yarn through the backing which is then held in place by underlying loopers.

Hand Knotted

The traditional domain of rugs from far away continents, hand knotted squares (nearly wall to wall carpets) and rugs use the expertise of weavers to produce work of the finest quality. Traditional rugs often feature a deliberate mistake on behalf of the weaver to guarantee its authenticity.

Fibre Bonded

Fibre bonded carpets are made by literally sticking fibres to the backing. These fibres can be individual or pushed and pulled into a web. These carpets, particularly with bitumen backings, are used primarily for contract carpeting and are generally in carpet tile or 2 meter sheet material format.

Carpet Fibres

Carpet fibres or yarn comes in many forms. Fibres are blended for their stain resistance and wear properties. One or more yarns can be twisted together and heat set to give the carpet greater dimensional stability.

There are two types of yarn used in the manufacture of carpets, "Man Made" and "Natural". They are often combined to produce a yarn that is both comfortable and hardwearing.

Natural Fibres

Wool

Naturally resilient, wool will recover quickly from foot traffic and furniture. It is warm and soft. Untreated it is not as easy to clean as some man-made fibres. Wool is an environmentally friendly option.

Sisal / Coir / Grasses

Seagrass, coconut husks and various plants can be woven into flooring. These offer durability but are not as soft as other fibres.

Man Made Fibres

Nylon

Nylon is extremely hard wearing and easy to clean. It blends well with other fibres to improve overall wear performance.

Olefin or Polypropylene

Polypropylene is hardwearing and highly stain resistant. It is easy to clean and colour fast.

Polyester

Polyester is often used in Saxony style carpets. It has a lustrous appearance and good stain resistance