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Carpet Styles

If you have chosen to go with carpet flooring whether it is for your home or office space then you are probably overwhelmed by the amount of styles of carpet there is to choose from. Each carpet style has its own functionality and understanding what each style can provide is the key to deciding what is going to be the best choice for your space. If you don’t know where to start, Jupps Floor Coverings has got you covered. We have compiled a list of carpet styles for you to consider.

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Loop Pile Carpet

Loop pile carpet is a style of carpet that utilizes uncut loops of yarn and is weaved into an up and down pattern. Being a more practical and hard wearing style of carpet, loop pile would be used in areas with high foot traffic as it does not discolour from footprints, hides soil and is very durable. Loop pile carpet comes in 3 variations.

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Level Loop Carpet

Level Loop Pile Level Loop Pile Carpet Styles Jupps Godfrey Hirst

Level Loop is constructed from tightly aligned loops at uniform length and is perfect for any high foot traffic areas

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Multi-level Loop Carpet

Multi Level Loop Pile Multi Level Loop Pile Carpet Styles Jupps Godfrey Hirst

Also referred as high-loop or sculptured loop is a style of carpet made from different pile heights to create a textured appearance. This style of carpet is most suited for medium to high foot traffic areas.

Sisal Laval Stone Feltex

Sisal Carpet

Sisal Sisal Carpet Styles Jupps Godfrey Hirst

Sisal is created from loops of varying heights in a tighter construction to achieve Straight rows and a stiffer feel to the carpet. Sisal offers durability longevity making it most practical for high foot traffic areas.

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Cut Pile Carpet

Cut pile carpet is loop pile carpet that has had the piles cut half way through the manufacturing process to achieve a softer and comfortable result. This style would typically be used in lower foot traffic areas including bedrooms and living rooms where we generally prioritize comfort over practicality. There are 2 variations of cut pile carpet.

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Cut Pile Plush Carpet

Cut pile Plush cut pile plush Carpet Styles Jupps Godfrey Hirst

Cut pile plush have the ends of the loops cut off to achieve an even surface providing a soft velvet finish.

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Cut Pile Twist Carpet

Cut Pile twist cut pile Twist Carpet Styles Jupps Godfrey Hirst

Cut pile twist is almost identical to cut pile plush but the tops have been twisted extensively to achieve a more textured look and harder feel. This style of carpet minimizes tracking and shading unlike cut pile plush.

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Combination Cut and Loop Pile

As simple as it sounds, this style of carpet is extremely versatile and combines the best of both worlds to achieve a durable yet soft to touch surface. There are 2 variations and come in many different designs and patterns.

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Level Cut and Loop Pile Carpet

Level Cut and Loop Pile Level Cut Loop Pile Carpet Styles Jupps Godfrey Hirst

Level cut and loop pile combines level cut and loop pile to achieve a soft to touch and stylish finish but on a linear level. This style of carpet can create an illusion of space in a room and is most suited to living rooms.

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Textured Cut and Loop pile Carpet

Textured Cut and Loop Pile Textured Cut Loop Pile Carpet Styles Jupps Godfrey Hirst

Textured cut and loop pile is a particular style that combines level loop and cut pile to achieve a soft and smooth finish with distinctive patterns.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a high-quality carpet? How can you tell the quality of carpet?

Unfortunately, there is no universal tool that will measure carpet quality, however there are techniques to consider such as weight and density, which will indicate the level of quality. Weight tells you how many fibres are present in the carpet, the more fibres there are the heavier it weighs and therefore the higher the quality of carpet is.
Density correlates to how many fibres are in the pile and how closely packed they are. The denser it feels the higher the quality. If you can feel the carpet backing, it’s not very dense.

What is the softest type of carpet?


A better way to phrase this question is what is the most comfortable type of carpet?

Comfort is being able to take a nap on your carpet because it’s as comfortable as your bed and isn’t itchy. The feel of carpet depends on the style of the carpet and the fibre it is made from.

The softest and most comfortable style is plush piles and the softest fibre is wool. Combine the 2 and it’s a match made in heaven, however is arguably the most expensive choice.

What are the types of carpet material? There are four basic types of carpet fiber

 

  • Nylon:Nylon is the most popular carpet fibre for not only being one of the more affordable synthetics, but also for its softness, durability and resistance to stains, mould, mildew and rot. Nylon holds its colour well, is easy to dye and maintains comfort levels.

  • Wool: Authentic, 100% pure natural wool is the softest carpet fibre out there. It’s luxurious, long-lasting, non-allergic and highly resistant to staining but it is also the most expensive carpet fibre. For this reason, many manufacturers will combine wool with synthetic fibres to create a cheaper alternative. Pure wool is also more susceptible to mould and mildew, therefore is not a good choice for areas of high humidity.

  • Polyester: Polyester is a 100% synthetic carpet fibre and very affordable. It’s perks include the ability to hold vibrant, fade-resistant colours, as well as being non-allergenic. A major drawback is that polyester is prone to flattening, which makes it a bad choice for high foot traffic areas. It’s also extremely tough to remove oil stains from polyester. However, if you’re looking for an eco-friendly product, some types of polyester carpet (PET) is made from recycled plastic bottles.

  • Olefin (polypropylene): Found in 80% of commercial applications and quickly becoming a rising star in residential settings, Olefin or Polypropylene is the next best-selling carpet fibre after Nylon. The fibres are quite similar to natural wool and are almost as soft as nylon. The fibre is highly stain resistant but not as resilient as Nylon —  prone to oil staining, which tends to collect a lot of dirt. That said, it’s relatively easy to clean, with cases of bleach being used.
Types of carpet dye methods

 

  • Solution dyeing: The fastest and most common form of carpet dyeing to add colour to carpet fibres. The fibres are dyed in solution form before being made into yarn and then into carpet. It’s the most colour and fade resistant method of dyeing and is often commonly found in commercial carpets. 

  • Continuous dyeing:This method is used for applying solid-color to cut pile carpet and is one of the most cost-effective and fastest ways of colour application.

  • Yarn dyeing: Is the process of colour yarn. Each individual fibre is dyed a single colour before it is tufted into carpet.

  • Digital dye infusion: Also known as printed carpet, uses the same dye and fixing processes as yarn dyeing, but instead the dye is applied after the textile has been created, allowing the dye to penetrate directly into the carpet fibres. This is to create extremely accurate and high-definition patterns and colours in specific locations of the textile.
What is the most durable type of carpet?

The most durable types of carpet are the ones which are the most dense feeling. The quality of the fibre construction also contributes to overall durability. Level loop, also known as Berber, is a type of carpet that uses short loops and is able to withstand high traffic areas.

In any case, it’s always good to refer to the carpet star-ratings label which gives a rating out of 6 for residential and out of 4 for commercial use if you are planning on using carpets tiles or broadloom carpet. It will also tell you if it should be used in areas of light, medium or heavy, or extra-heavy foot traffic areas.

What is a good pile height for carpet?

To determine what pile height is best for you, you need to ask the question of ‘where is the carpet going?’ carpet pile height can be split into 3 heights:

 

  • Low pile carpet: tighter weave, denser quality and smoother surface. It offers durability and strength to withstand heavy foot traffic areas and is much easier to vacuum and clean. 

 

  • Medium pile carpet: A balance of both worlds, softer than low pile, easy to vacuum.

 

  • High pile carpet: Much softer feeling underfoot, comfortable to sleep on, has a looser appearance and feels ‘fluffy’. Used for adding warmth, comfort, softness and coziness to a room, with far more texture than low pile carpet. The long fibres however, make it harder to clean and often trapping dirt, allergens and other items in the fibres. This can be an issue if you suffer from allergies.

 

Which is better — cut pile or loop carpet?

 

  • Loop pile carpet: Has strands of yarn pulled through the carpet backing twice to create individual loops, hence the name loop pile. Loop pile is durable and well suited for high foot traffic areas.

 

  • Cut pile carpets: as the name suggests, the tops are cut, leaving behind tufts of yarn which stand straight up. This provides a much more luxurious and soft to touch look. Cut pile carpet is perfect for bedroom and living room areas where comfort is a priority and there is less foot traffic

 

How often should you replace carpet?

The average time carpet flooring lasts is heavily dependent on the type of carpet and residential environment it is in. In an average Australian home of 2 to 4 occupants, you can expect carpet to last around 3 to 5 years. 

Households with kids and pets can shorten its lifespan even further without regular carpet maintenance and cleaning.

Low foot traffic can see some carpet fibres last 8 years and 6 years for medium traffic.

When should I replace my carpet?

The length of time your carpet can last will depend on a number of factors including:

  • Can’t stand the sight of stains. There’s only so many ways to hide carpet stains — indoor plants, decorative rugs — but alas if your carpet is overrun with unsightly stains, it’s probably time to replace it.

 

  • Persistent odour. Even after giving it a good clean there seems to be a foul smell lingering. Despite cleaning pet accidents and spills immediately, the smell can remain which means the odour has penetrated deep into the fibres.

 

 

  • Allergies flaring up. If you find yourself constantly sniffing and sneezing in carpet areas of your home it’s probably because the carpet is harbouring years worth of pollen, dust, mites, ageing fibres and other allergens which can trigger allergies.

 

  • Wearing thin, lost its cushion. Bald patches, matting and worn out underlay padding is usually the result of heavy foot traffic. Carpet flooring becomes uncomfortable to walk on and can affect the acoustics of a room.

 

  • Water damage. Dampness is a common occurrence in Australia’s more humid regions and can leave behind a nasty smell. With the possible growth of mould and mildew, it’s best to replace your carpet.